Pakistani man allegedly plotted Toronto attacks

Toronto Sun

SHAWN JEFFORDS and ANDREW MCINTOSHI, QMI Agency

A Pakistani man arrested Monday on allegations he plotted to blow up several Toronto buildings including the U.S. Consulate was interviewed several times by officials from Canada Border Services Agency and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, QMI Agency has learned.

The authorities interest in Jhanzab Malik, 34, grew substantially after he returned to Toronto’s Pearson International Airport in April 2013.

Malik came to Canada on a student visa in 2004 and became a permanent resident five years later after a marriage that has now ended.

The authorities gathered evidence that links Malik directly to violent extremism, its promotion and further evidence emerged that he was planning a violent terrorist attack on the U.S. Consulate building in Toronto.

According to a statement issued by the Immigration and Refugee Board Wednesday afternoon, Malik was allegedly a self-proclaimed supporter of the Islamic State and al Qaida. He allegedly planned to attack the U.S. consulate in Toronto and other targets in the city's financial district, an immigration review body heard on Wednesday.

He allegedly planned to carry out the attack using remote controlled bombs.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is seeking his continued detention until he can be deported. The IRB ordered Malik's continued detention at a hearing Wednesday because he is considered a security and flight risk.

The CBSA said Malik told an undercover police officer he had attended weapons, combat and landmine training in Libya, and sought to build an explosive device for use in Toronto, the reports said.

He also claimed to have been a personal friend of Anwar al-Awlaki, a U.S.-born spokesman for al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, who was killed in a CIA drone strike in 2011.

The accusations have not been proven. A CBSA investigation into the matter is still on-going.

Court records confirm Malik has faced assault and fraud charges in the past.

Those charges have been dealt with, according to a court clerk at Old City Hall, but the outcome was not immediately known.

Malik has no criminal matters currently before the courts.

The Canadian government is seeking to deport Malik as a security threat and the hearing at the Immigration and Refugee Board on Wednesday was held to determine whether he should be detained during the deportation process, which can take months.

Another Pakistani man suspected of militant links, Muhammad Aqeeq Ansari, is being held awaiting possible deportation.

Malik is expected to appear before the IRB next on March 16.

-- With files from Chris Doucette, Reuters​