Muslims Helped Canadian Authorities in Amtrak Derailing Plot

Muslims Helped Canadian Authorities in Amtrak Derailing Plot

  • By Ginger Hill
  • Apr 23, 2013

It seems that the Muslim community assisted in detaining the two suspects, Chiheb Esseghaier, a 30-year old doctoral student of Montreal and Raed Jaser, age 35 of Toronto for planning to derail an Amtrak train after it had crossed the border into Canada from the United States. Several news sources have said that the plan was “al-Qaeda-inspired,” meaning that the plan was directed and guided from an element of al-Qaeda, the Islamic terrorist organization, based in Iran.

Muhammad Robert Heft, a Muslim community leader in Canada, told the Toronto Sun newspaper, “There is going to be backlash, but I want to reiterate. Who was the one who tipped the RCMP off? It was our community.”

This act from the Muslim community helped to solve an investigation that has been ongoing for a year.

Muhammad Heft operates an out-reach program for youth who are at risk of being radicalized. He believes that acts such as this must be “nipped in the bud,” and people must cooperate with authorities so that justice can be served.

“At the end of the day, it’s now how your dress, it’s how you think,” said Heft. “…in our hearts we love Canada. It’s our country. It’s our tribe. We want safety for all Canadians regardless of their religion.”

I applaud Heft for not only helping Canadian authorities deter what could have been a disastrous terrorist attack but also for helping at-risk youth.

Muslims Helped Canadian Authorities in Amtrak Derailing Plot

 

 

 

Materials confiscated from suspects home in conjunction with planned train derailment.

 

 

 

Muslims Helped Canadian Authorities in Amtrak Derailing Plot

 

 

Story map of Canadian train derailment incident.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Sources: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/23/17873250-muslims-helped-foil-alleged-canada-train-bomb-plot?lite and http://www.torontosun.com/2013/04/22/muslim-community-tipped-off-rcmp-about-terror-plot)

(Video and Pictures Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2313125/Canada-terror-plot-Authorities-thwart-al-Qaeda-backed-attack-trains-Toronto.html)

 

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

  • Security Today Announces 2025 CyberSecured Award Winners

    Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 CyberSecured Awards winners. Sixteen companies are being recognized this year for their network products and other cybersecurity initiatives that secure our world today. Read Now

  • Empowering and Securing a Mobile Workforce

    What happens when technology lets you work anywhere – but exposes you to security threats everywhere? This is the reality of modern work. No longer tethered to desks, work happens everywhere – in the office, from home, on the road, and in countless locations in between. Read Now

  • TSA Introduces New $45 Fee Option for Travelers Without REAL ID Starting February 1

    The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced today that it will refer all passengers who do not present an acceptable form of ID and still want to fly an option to pay a $45 fee to use a modernized alternative identity verification system, TSA Confirm.ID, to establish identity at security checkpoints beginning on February 1, 2026. Read Now

  • The Evolution of IP Camera Intelligence

    As the 30th anniversary of the IP camera approaches in 2026, it is worth reflecting on how far we have come. The first network camera, launched in 1996, delivered one frame every 17 seconds—not impressive by today’s standards, but groundbreaking at the time. It did something that no analog system could: transmit video over a standard IP network. Read Now

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.