A chilling investigation, initially sparked by two brazen attempted abductions, has unraveled a disturbing terror plot targeting women and the Jewish community in the Greater Toronto Area. What began as a search for kidnappers quickly morphed into a complex national security case with alarming implications.
The first incident occurred on a May evening near Don Mills Road, where three armed men attempted to forcibly abduct a woman. A quick-thinking motorist intervened, disrupting the attack and allowing the victim to escape. Less than a month later, a similar scene unfolded in Streetsville, with two women pursued by three individuals wielding a knife, rifle, and handgun – again, a bystander’s intervention prevented a horrifying outcome.
Detectives swiftly connected the two attacks, identifying three suspects and executing searches at their Toronto residences. The raids yielded a disturbing cache of weapons, including firearms, ammunition, and high-capacity magazines, signaling a level of preparation that went far beyond simple kidnapping.
Waleed Khan, Fahad Sadaat, and Osman Azizov – aged 26, 19, and 18 respectively – were arrested in connection with the attempted kidnappings. However, the investigation didn’t stop there. Evidence emerged pointing to a deeper, more sinister motive: hate-fueled extremism with ties to international terrorism.
The RCMP’s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) joined the investigation, uncovering evidence of a direct link to ISIS. This evidence, described as “significant concern” by authorities, revealed a plot not just to abduct, but to inflict harm motivated by extremist ideology.
Khan now faces the most serious charges, including providing funding to ISIS, participating in terrorist activities, and conspiring to commit murder at the direction of a terrorist group. The three men collectively face 79 charges, encompassing offenses from auto theft to sexual assault and numerous firearms violations.
The unfolding case arrives amidst heightened global anxieties, less than a week after a horrific attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Australia, allegedly carried out by ISIS operatives. This incident has ignited fears that similar acts of violence could occur in Canada, prompting warnings from security experts and international observers.
Concerns are growing that a climate of tolerance towards anti-Israel extremism could embolden attackers. Some voices, including a member of the Israeli Cabinet originally from Toronto, have warned that inaction will inevitably lead to bloodshed on Canadian soil. The investigation remains ongoing, with certain details shielded by a publication ban, but the message from authorities is clear: those who threaten the safety of Canadians will be held accountable.
