| Submit your comments on this article | ||
| Great White North | ||
| French terrorist bombing suspect allegedly taking refuge in Canada | ||
| 2007-10-13 | ||
| Canada's Jewish community is expressing hope that federal security agencies will bring to justice the perpetrator in a terrorist cold case in France who has allegedly taken refuge in this country. Yesterday, Le Figaro reported that European security agencies are looking for help tracking down a fugitive who used a motorcycle bomb to kill four people and wound 20 others in an October, 1980 attack in Paris. The identity of the suspect had long been unknown. But authorities have recently identified him as a 55-year-old naturalized Canadian of Arab origin who now lives in Canada after spending years in the United States. The Copernic Road synagogue bombing, which prompted massive rallies against anti-Semitism in France, continues to send ripples of fear today - it's considered one of the reasons that security is increased in synagogues during the High Holidays. "It's the major incident that started a way in the thinking of Jewish communities around the world," said Bernie Farber, chief executive of the Canadian Jewish Congress. "It's one of the first times there was a serious bombing outside the Middle East on sovereign territory - French territory, in Paris - aimed specifically at Jews." Mr. Farber said that while Canada has had "a spotty history" in dealing with terrorists, he is hopeful federal agencies will play a key role in tracking down and extraditing the suspect. "It's a new era, it's a new government," he said. "They have committed themselves to dealing properly and forthrightly with terrorism. This will be a good test case."
French authorities are said to be angered by the leak of their reinvigorated investigation, and have not divulged the suspect's identity. Canadian officials and the French embassy in Ottawa had little to say yesterday. "Communications between states are confidential," said Chris Girouard of the Canadian Department of Justice. Jean-Christophe Fleury, of the French embassy in Ottawa, said he was not free to comment.
Ottawa officials have now twice failed to deport an alleged member named Issam Al Yamani. The government alleged he was involved in a 1977 United Arab Emirates bombing. But in one of the rulings, a Federal Court judge said the suspect was not a threat given that the PFLP was "not the potent organization it once was, nor is it the radical terrorist organization that it was in the early seventies." Canada has also taken criticism for the so-called "Triple-M" case. Mahmoud Mohammad Issa Mohammad, a PFLP member who allegedly killed an Israeli citizen while hijacking a plane in 1968, has spent nearly 20 years resisting the government's attempts to deport him on the grounds he entered Canada under false pretenses. While Mr. Farber said he has faith in the Canadian police to track down terrorists, he said the "glacial pace" of the Canadian criminal-justice system remains troubling. But he said his group and counterparts in France are glad authorities never closed the books on the hunt for the synagogue bomber. "There is no statute of limitations when it comes to murder," Mr. Farber said. | ||
| Posted by:tipper |
| #2 "But when they get pi@@ed off they can turn into snarly, vindictive goose steppers pretty quickly. . . . . and then back again." Works for me, CS. Snarl away. :-D |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2007-10-13 16:00 |
| #1 The Canadian Parliamentary system is based on the British Westminster model and is very different from the USA's Representative Republic. Much information is kept from the public. Much, much information. I have first hand experience with certain extraditions that have occured from here without the knowledge of them being passed on to the Canadian public. I also know that certain "persons of interest" are under observation. That being said, not one person involved in news gathering or dissemination has any knowledge of how closely this "naturalized Canadian of Arab origin" may or may not be being watched. As soon as the subject of naturalized Canadian/terrorism or "Security Certificates" arises, the government spokesmen begin to doublespeak and stutter. What you should realize is that Canadians want to appear to be nice, polite and friendly people. . . . But when they get pi@@ed off they can turn into snarly, vindictive goose steppers pretty quickly. . . . . and then back again. I'm one of 'em and I've had over 60 years of observation to back up my opinion. |
| Posted by: Canuckistan sniper 2007-10-13 12:20 |