http://news.in.msn.com/international/ar ... id=4317298
So many things just don't add up:'Operation Samosa': "Idol" terror suspect in court, fourth arrest made
Ottawa, Ontario: A terror suspect who appeared on the TV show "Canadian Idol" made a brief court appearance on Friday, and police said they arrested a fourth man in an alleged plot to build bombs.
TV grab of terror suspect Dr Khurram Syed Sher during 'Canadian Idol' auditions.
The "Idol" contestant, Dr Khurram Syed Sher, 28, is charged with conspiracy to facilitate terrorist activity. Police said they seized 50 circuit boards intended for use in remotely detonated bombs. Two other men allegedly involved in the plot had appeared in court on Thursday.
Sher appeared on the reality show in 2008 singing a comical version of Avril Lavigne's "Complicated," complete with dance moves that included a moonwalk.
The bearded father of three, a pathologist in Ontario, appeared nervous during his Friday court appearance. He was ordered to appear again before the court on September 1 via video feed.
Lawyer Anser Farooq told reporters outside the courtroom his client had just been flown to Ottawa on a federal police aircraft and was anxious to return to his family.
"He's OK I mean, he's just been brought over, separated from his family," Farooq said.
"We're hoping to address the main concern, which is getting into the court and hear the concerns (prosecution) has, and get him back to his family as soon as possible."
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sgt Marc Menard said the fourth person arrested has not yet been charged. Police did not give his name but confirmed the arrest was part of an investigation that began last September known as "Project Samosa."
Police said the three suspects already charged had been working together since February 2008 and alleged that they conspired to "knowingly facilitate terrorist activities" in Canada and abroad. Police said the plot ranged from Canada to Iran, Afghanistan, Dubai and Pakistan, but did not elaborate.
Police said they moved in on the men to prevent them from sending money to terror groups in Afghanistan.
The others charged are Hiva Mohammad Alizadeh, 30, and Misbahuddin Ahmed, 26, of Ottawa.
Ahmed is an X-ray technician at an Ottawa hospital.
Alizadeh studied English as an additional language and electrical engineering technology at Red River College in Winnipeg.
All those arrested are Canadian citizens.
Source: AP
- From song and dance to bombs and blasts...in just 2 short years?
- A pathologist who graduated from McGill University (top medical school in Canada and one of the most distinguished in the entire world) and is obviously well-educated would spend 8 years studying and go through Med School, just to end up throwing it all away to become a terrorist?
- A father of three who is married would jeopardize his family and marriage to a young wife, when he's succesful and leading a comfortable life?
- Why label the sting operation "Project Samosa"?
- The biggest question mark of all....what/who's next?
Call me off-base with this one, but I have a sneaking suspicion the targeted arrest of this man is much more sinister than most people realize. Right now, "Islamic terrorist" in the minds of your average Westerner is associated with an image of a bearded man in some far away land with an cimaamad wrapped around his face, an AK-47 slung over his shoulder, and his index finger wagging and shaking into a camera lens while screaming indecipherable Arabic during the latest installment of "we will kill you all". But what if the distinction wasn't as easy to make, and that terrorist traded the firearm for a PhD and spoke the same English as every other Tom, ceeb and Harry? Sure, "all Muslims aren't terrorists and all terrorists aren't Muslim" is the PC and tactful thing to say, but how many more incidents like this until it becomes categorized as just lip service? Slowly, the line between a violently radical extremist and a law-abiding Muslim citizen is being blurred and once it stops existing, Islam will become the new "Al-Qaeda".
Ramadaan Kariim everyone.
