Just days before, Quebec authorities had charged four individuals tied to a significant terrorism investigation. Through this ongoing probe, the RCMP have uncovered the largest collection of weapons and explosives in Canadian history related to domestic extremism. The accused are Quebec City residents Marc-Aurèle Chabot and Simon Angers-Audet, both 24, and Raphaël Lagacé, 25. In addition, 33-year-old Matthew Forbes from Pont-Rouge is charged with possession of firearms, prohibited devices and explosives.
Quebec’s RCMP-led Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) was responsible for leading the investigation. They found proof that the group intended to form an anti-government militia. According to reports, they intended to violently occupy land around the Québec City region. Local police worked with the RCMP on this extensive investigation.
Jessica Davis, a former intelligence analyst at Canada’s spy agency, called this plot one of the largest disruptions to overseas terrorism activities ever. She stressed its unique effect on neighboring NATO countries.
“This is the largest cache of equipment and weapons and explosive devices that have ever been found in a terrorist incident, by a long shot, in Canada,” – Jessica Davis
According to Davis, the majority of terror attacks in Canada in the last 20 years have been motivated by ideologically motivated violent extremism. That motivation encapsulates a wider toxic swirl of extremist ideology—from anti-Muslim to ‘Incel’ to anti-government—bubbling under the surface.
“We’re not talking about al-Qaida and Islamic State. We’re talking about anti-Muslim, ‘Incel’, or anti-government extremists. And I think that’s one of those things that Canadians don’t necessarily understand,” – Jessica Davis
The RCMP allege that the three younger accused attended military-style training camps. These workshops included everything from marksmanship training, ambush tactics, survival skills and navigation courses. They in addition performed reconnaissance missions with the goal of enlisting potential new recruits into their quasi-military order.
The four suspects haven’t pleaded yet to the charges filed against them. They were set to be in front of a Quebec judge on Tuesday.
“The three accused were planning to create an anti-government militia. To achieve this, they took part in military-style training, as well as shooting, ambush, survival and navigation exercises,” – RCMP
Authorities are still investigating to get a clearer picture of what the extremist group may have been planning and operating. They are calling attention to the important issues of domestic terrorism and how it can take various forms in Canadian society.