Toronto man charged with terrorism over alleged ISIS-linked activities

Toronto Police Service said the arrest was the result of a joint investigation involving local officers and federal counterterrorism authorities. The accused, identified as Waleed Khan, faces multiple terrorism charges as well as allegations connected to violent crimes motivated by hate.

According to police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Mr Khan is accused of providing funds and property to the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, and of aiding terrorist activity. He is also charged with conspiracy to commit murder for the benefit of a terrorist organisation.

Authorities said the alleged terrorism-related activities took place between 17 June and 17 August this year. The allegations have not been tested in court, and Mr Khan is presumed innocent.

The investigation began after two attempted kidnappings in the Greater Toronto Area in late spring and early summer. Toronto police said these incidents initially appeared to be violent crimes but later revealed possible links to extremist ideology.

The first alleged kidnapping attempt occurred on 31 May near Don Mills Road and Eglinton Avenue East in Toronto. Police said a woman was confronted by several men, one of whom was armed, and was ordered into a vehicle. The suspects fled after the woman resisted and called for help.

A second incident was reported on 24 June in Mississauga, west of Toronto. Peel Regional Police said three men chased two women and attempted to force them into a vehicle near Britannia Road West and Queen Street South. Investigators said one suspect may have been carrying a firearm and another a knife before a bystander intervened.

Police later linked the two incidents and identified three suspects. Alongside Mr Khan, Toronto police said Osman Azizov, aged 18, and Fahad Sadaat, aged 19, were arrested in connection with the alleged kidnapping attempts.

Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said the investigation uncovered evidence suggesting the offences were motivated in part by hate and extremist beliefs. “The investigation identified alleged offences that were motivated in part by hate-motivated extremism with potential links to terrorism,” he said in a video statement released by police.

Following searches of residences connected to the accused, police said they found firearms and ammunition. The discovery led to the involvement of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which took over the national security aspect of the case.

In a joint statement, police said the scope of the investigation expanded after evidence pointed to offences “particularly targeting women and members of the Jewish community”. Authorities stressed that while no specific community locations were identified as targets, the ideology associated with the alleged activities posed a serious public safety risk.

In total, police said 79 charges have been laid against the three accused. Each faces multiple counts, including attempted kidnapping with a firearm, sexual assault with a weapon and hate-related offences. Mr Khan faces additional charges, including firearm offences and alleged breaches of probation, as well as the terrorism counts.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow praised police and federal authorities for the arrests, saying they had uncovered “potential threats to public safety motivated by hate”. She added that continued vigilance was essential to keeping communities safe.

Community organisations also responded to the announcement. Noah Shack, chief executive of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, described the police findings as “absolutely chilling”. Speaking at a news conference, he said the alleged motivations and the means available to the accused highlighted the danger posed by extremist ideologies.

“Not only how heinous and horrific the motivation of these individuals was, but the means that they had at their disposal to act out that hate is very scary indeed,” Mr Shack said. He called for increased investment in intelligence, law enforcement and community protection to counter extremism.

Shauna Kaufman, director of operations at Canadian Women Against Antisemitism, said the case underscored the need to address the root causes of hate crimes. “We require safety walking in the streets,” she said, adding that early warning signs of extremism must be taken seriously.

Context

Canada has intensified its focus on counterterrorism and hate-motivated violence in recent years, as authorities warn of the growing influence of online extremist networks. Police say such ideologies can translate into real-world violence, often targeting women and minority communities.

The arrests in Toronto come amid heightened global concern over extremist-inspired attacks. Law enforcement agencies have stressed the importance of early intervention, information sharing and cooperation between local and federal authorities to prevent potential acts of violence before they occur.