Sometime after leaving the military, Chand began hanging out near the Salaheddin Islamic Centre in Scarborough, playing sports with some of the youths and becoming interested in Islam, the centre's imam ... [and] ... later converted to Islam. Plan to 'behead' PM Brampton court hears of plot to storm Parliament Hill and take politicians hostage Jun. 7, 2006. 06:06 AM BRUCE CAMPION-SMITH AND MICHELLE SHEPHARD STAFF REPORTERS http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/ Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1149630613348&call_pageid=968332188492 The terrorism suspect who allegedly plotted to behead the Prime Minister was a Canadian soldier for four years and likely received weapons training. The Toronto Star has learned that Steven Vikash Chand was a member of the Royal Regiment of Canada, a reservist unit that meets in Toronto. Chand, who later converted to Islam and went by the name Abdul Shakur, is charged with belonging to a terrorist group, receiving training and recruiting or training others to participate in terrorist activity. The charges partly involve allegations that Chand and eight other suspects spent five days last winter in a remote field in Washago, Ont., to participate in terrorist training. Cmdr. Denise Laviolette confirmed yesterday that Chand was once in the military, but sought to dispel any suggestion that the 25-year-old was a well-honed soldier. Instead, she described Chand as a reservist who was absent for much of his time in uniform and completed few of the qualifications required for infantry soldiers. Chand was one of 17 suspects arrested Friday and Saturday as part of a massive police raid. They are accused of being members of an alleged homegrown terrorist cell, plotting attacks in Canada. At a Brampton courthouse yesterday, 15 of the suspects appeared for a brief hearing and will remain in custody for a week until their bail hearings begin. Two suspects are already serving time in a Kingston penitentiary on weapons offences. While security was more discreet than during their last appearance Saturday, when helicopters circled the buildings and snipers were posted on the courthouse roof, members of the Peel police tactical team armed with submachine guns were on standby. Outside the courthouse was a crush of cameras and reporters from national and international media outlets and each time relatives of an accused arrived they would be encircled as they walked to the door, creating a chaotic scene. Chand's lawyer, Gary Batasar, stunned the courtroom by revealing that his client and the 16 others are accused of being involved in a "detailed terrorist plot," which included plans to storm the Parliament buildings in Ottawa, take political hostages, harm hostages if Canadian troops did not withdraw from Afghanistan, and to attack media outlets including the CBC. Relying on a synopsis provided by government lawyers, Batasar indicated that Chand was also alleged as a suspect "likely to behead Prime Minister Stephen Harper." Batasar also asked the court to read the charges his client faces, saying Chand was still "unaware of the circumstances surrounding his arrest." "Do you understand the charges?" the justice of the peace asked, once they had been read. "No," Chand said, before being cut off by his lawyer. "Let's leave this alone for now," Batasar said. There was no mention during the hearing of Chand's prior military involvement. Laviolette confirmed it's likely Chand received some training on the C-7 assault rifle, the mainstay weapon for Canada's frontline soldiers that can fire up to 940 rounds a minute, and perhaps the Browning 9 mm pistol, as well. The regiment website boasts that its soldiers are trained in how to use rifles and pistols, explosives and pyrotechnics, missiles and grenades, unarmed combat and "employ ... battle procedures including camouflage and concealment, internal security, patrol, escape and evasion tactics." "Is it possible that he had small arms training? Absolutely. However, it would have been a day at the range," Laviolette said in an interview. "If he did part of his infantry training, it might have been a few more days at the range." However, Laviolette said there's no indication from training records that Chand progressed to train on heavier weapons. Chand joined the reserves in June 2000 and served until April 2004. However, he was missing in action for much of that time, according to military personnel records. "He spent a large portion of his time in the Canadian Forces on leave of absence and did not, as far as we can tell ... it looks like he did not complete his military trade training," Laviolette said. While the Royal Regiment's soldiers have served alongside full-time troops in Afghanistan, Chand did not deploy on missions in either Canada or overseas, Laviolette said. Sometime after leaving the military, Chand began hanging out near the Salaheddin Islamic Centre in Scarborough, playing sports with some of the youths and becoming interested in Islam, the centre's imam, Aly Hindy, said yesterday. Hindy said while he did not know Chand well, he did instruct him during a few sessions about Islam. A mosque member who knew Chand, Mohamed Ally, said Chand visited schools to help troubled youths find religion. "He's innocent," he said. "He's very humble, peaceful brother." At the hearing yesterday, lawyers for nearly all of the men complained about the conditions they've been kept in at Maplehurst Detention Centre, an adult facility in which some of the youths have also been held. Since their arrest Friday night, the accused have been in solitary confinement, under close supervision. None has been allowed telephone privileges or visits with family members. Lawyer Peter Martin — temporarily representing Shareef Abdelhaleen — complained his client was not allowed any interaction with other people. He asked that Justice of the Peace Maurice Hudson consider allowing the accused to pray together. Lawyers complained they have not been allowed to talk in private with their clients. "The right to counsel and to have a private conversation ... this is a basic right that no allegation colours or takes away from," said Rocco Galati, lawyer for one of the accused. Anser Farooq, a lawyer for several of the accused, said some family members phoned the detention centre to inquire about visiting, and officials refused to disclose if the accused individual was being held at the facility. "A glimpse of a family friend is not going to cause any disruption to the proceedings in this case," Farooq said, urging the court to loosen restrictions. Prosecutor Jim Leising said: "I have nothing do with the rules an institution imposes." Although Hudson refused to change his ruling barring the accused from communicating with each other, he ordered that the youths be treated under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, and housed separately from the other prisoners. Leising has said bail hearings may not be completed for several months. Yesterday, only two official bail hearings were scheduled, those of one youth and 30-year-old Shareef Abdelhaleen. The youth's bail hearing, set for June 16, is expected to take an entire day. Abdelhaleen's hearing is to proceed July 4. Most of the accused will return to court Monday. With files from Jessica Leeder, Harold Levy and Surya Bhattacharya Fair Use Notice The above newspaper article is copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material.  If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. yayacanada Main Page for Terror Roundups