A RCMP police vehicle is shown in Surrey, B.C., in a file photo. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck
A Montreal youth has been arrested on terrorism allegations after police discovered artificial intelligence was being used to allegedly plan an attack on a city school, the RCMP says.
The Mounties have yet to file any charges against the teenage boy who was taken into custody on Aug. 21, but said the investigation is still underway.
“Investigators had reasonable grounds to fear that the suspect might commit crimes related to violent extremism,” the police said in a press release.
The RCMP did not identify which Montreal school was being targeted in the alleged plot and also did not disclose the name of the suspect in compliance with the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
The youth has also been accused of posting threatening messages on Telegram targeting various groups but the RCMP has not released any details regarding the nature of the extremism involved or the content of the threats contained in the messages.
The investigation began a few weeks ago after the Mounties received intelligence from the FBI.
The police operation was carried out to disrupt the suspect’s alleged activities and to request a peace bond under the provisions of the Criminal Code, the RCMP said.
A peace bond is a protective court order that requires a person to “keep the peace and be of good behaviour” for up to 12 months and must be approved by a judge.
The minor appeared before the Youth Division of the Montreal courthouse last week and was released, the RCMP told the Epoch Times in an email.
The spokesperson said the peace bond “allows for monitoring and de-escalation interventions designed to reduce risks to public safety and promote compliance with the conditions imposed.”
The RCMP said the operation was conducted as part of its efforts to address ideologically motivated violent extremism, which the federal police force has identified as a national priority.
The Mounties indicated earlier this year that extremism has become a rising problem among young people.
“The RCMP continues to see youth engagement in radicalization and ideologically motivated violent extremism,” it said in a Facebook post. “We’re working closely with communities across Canada to help prevent and disrupt these potential threats.”
The Mounties are asking the public to report suspicious activities to them here, to their local police force, or to dial 9-1-1 if there is immediate danger.
