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12 Al-Qaida suspects in Toronto let go due to lack of space
The Toronto Sun ^
| 12/2/01
| TOM GODFREY
Posted on 12/02/2001 9:12:49 PM PST by Andy from Beaverton
Al-Qaida suspects in T.O.
Immigration let 12 go due to lack of space
By TOM GODFREY -- Toronto Sun
Canadian immigration officers say a lack of detention space forced them to release a dozen men into the Toronto area who are suspected of having links to al-Qaida terrorists.
Immigration officers say they had to release about 500 undocumented refugee claimants of the estimated 1,000 who showed in November at Pearson airport seeking refugee status.
With no spots available at the immigration holding centre near Pearson, or area jails, the refugees had to be released, officers say. Among those, the RCMP and CSIS said, were a dozen men suspected by police of having ties -- or information about -- al-Qaida terrorists.
Police have stepped up their search for the dozen, who arrived from the Middle East and did not return their mail-in refugee kits after clearing immigration. The kits ask claimants if they've ever been a head of state, belonged to a military or spy apparatus, been in jail or had membership in a terrorist group in their homeland. Officers said most claimants answer "no" to the questions.
POLICE DATABANKS
Police said the men, aged 18-35, never reported to addresses given to airport authorities and did not show up at welfare offices to obtain benefit cheques. Their names have been placed in police and immigration databanks. The men are sought for questioning for possible links to terror mastermind Osama bin Laden and other suspected al-Qaida terrorists, including Parkdale refugee claimant Nabil Al-Marabh, who's been charged for terrorism-related offences in the U.S.
Meanwhile, front-line customs and immigration officers said the record number of claimants they're processing from the Middle East and other countries may be due to the aftermath of Sept. 11, or people trying to beat new immigration laws next year.
CSIS agents at the airport have been questioning many of the claimants, fearing some could be al-Qaida fighters or family members of Taliban leaders sent here to seek refuge.
Officers said a record 60 claimants touched down on Tuesday, about 50 on Wednesday and more than 35 on Friday night. Officers are being moved from their regular duties, or working overtime, to process the claimants.
"We are getting swamped," an airport worker said yesterday. "We are trying to keep our head above water."
NO DOCUMENTS
Immigration officers spoke on the condition that their names not be released, fearing repercussions from the department.
An immigration spokesman confirmed as many as 40% of claimants arriving at Pearson have no documents. They are fingerprinted and released, but police checks may take weeks because of a backlog. Immigration spokesman Giovanna Gatti said last week a team of officers has been meeting planes at Pearson to halt the smuggling of claimants.
TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
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Canada as well as Oregon seem to be a safe haven for terrorist.
To: Andy from Beaverton; Marine Inspector
Immigration officers spoke on the condition that their names not be released, fearing repercussions from the department. Why would they fear repercussions for speaking the truth?
To: Andy from Beaverton
"Canadian immigration officers say a lack of detention space forced them to release a dozen men into the Toronto area who are suspected of having links to al-Qaida terrorists. "
Canada has military forces in/near Afghanistan as part of the coalition. That makes Canada fair game for the terrorists. I hope they can stand to lose a few of their citizens to terrorist acts. Talk about saying, please kill me!!!
3
posted on
12/02/2001 9:22:16 PM PST
by
Don Myers
To: Andy from Beaverton
Un - freaking believable, eh. And to think that the Canucks were feeling unappreciated for their "vigilance" re terrorism.
Yeh, no "sieve" up there, eh.
4
posted on
12/02/2001 9:24:10 PM PST
by
jrewingjr
To: Andy from Beaverton; All
These Al Quida terrorists are probably living in Portland, Or. now, with rent vouchers, free food, SSI and free medical care! Mayor Katz will honor them as heroes when she replaces Christmas with "
We love and honor the Islamic and Al Quida terrorists day!"
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To: Fred Mertz
This is getting like that old Sci-fi weekly TV series fron the 60s -- 'The Invaders.' Are we being told everything? I think not. There seem to be a truck-load of mysterious agendas and repercussions involving the Justice Department, FBI, CIA, Interpol, you name it, since September 11 -- not only from our own government, but others, as in this case from Canada.
This release stinks to high-heaven, unless they're being used.
Huh, I didn't realize that Federal Judge William Wayne Justice had moved to Canada.
To: Andy from Beaverton
Toronto, Ontario... Toronto Orwellio?
are these canucks stupid?
8
posted on
12/02/2001 9:35:00 PM PST
by
GeronL
To: Andy from Beaverton
They couldn't find anyone else to let go first?
To: Andy from Beaverton
Maybe they'll have to close the US-Canada border,until they find the 12 missing ones.
10
posted on
12/02/2001 9:52:49 PM PST
by
cavador
To: GeronL
Yes.
To: Diddle E. Squat
Huh, I didn't realize that Federal Judge William Wayne Justice had moved to Canada. ROTFLMAO, now there is a blast from the past. Most non-Texas freepers probably don't know who that slug is but I sure do.
To: Andy from Beaverton
Maybe Vera Katz will host them.
To: Texasforever
In all the vast expanse of Canada, they couldn't find room for just 12 graves?
14
posted on
12/02/2001 10:08:27 PM PST
by
HHFi
To: Don Myers; maica; Lazamataz; onyx; Poohbah; Hildy
Canada will not be attacked by the terrorists because that stupid nations open door policy makes it far more valuable as a staging area and access point for attacks on America.
IMHO, that is the same reason we will not see attacks in San Diego and Southern California: they will not want to draw attention to their "safe havens".
To: Andy from Beaverton
Oh well, fire up the bombers. Looks like we have to bomb Canada now. Don't we?
16
posted on
12/02/2001 10:40:04 PM PST
by
Demidog
To: Andy from Beaverton
I am getting a bit tired of this one. It's been posted twice before.
17
posted on
12/02/2001 10:55:12 PM PST
by
Nogbad
To: Andy from Beaverton
What a cheap excuse. We don't have enough room, so we are letting potential killers out.
To: Travis McGee
IMHO, that is the same reason we will not see attacks in San Diego and Southern California: they will not want to draw attention to their "safe havens".You couldn't be more correct if you tried! Plus the fact that San Diego is said to be home to the second largest Muslim population in the US. I think Deerborn, MI is first.
19
posted on
12/02/2001 11:31:17 PM PST
by
onyx
To: onyx
San Diego is too valuable to the terrorists as a portal and haven and documentation backup center to have it put under the microscope. They will just cotinue to use it as their base.
Roger Hedgecock is absolutely correct: he knows where the enemy is, he's been to Clairmont.
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