2 Detained By Immigration In Terror Case, Sources Say

RCMP confirms 1 arrest; FBI may have 2nd suspect

by Phinjo Gombu
The Toronto Star
September 15, 2001

 

Two people detained in Canada this week by immigration officials had in their possession similar posed photographs of themselves in flight crew uniforms in front of a fake backdrop of the World Trade Center, sources say.

The first man, who is in his 20s, was arrested earlier this week at Pearson International Airport when his flight from Amsterdam to Detroit was diverted to Toronto, sources say. Air routes over North America were shut down following attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on Tuesday. Police sources confirmed a news report yesterday that the man was arrested after customs officers became suspicious when the photo was discovered along with other items. He is being investigated by the Canadian Security Intelligence Services and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in connection with Tuesday's attacks.

The RCMP said yesterday a person had been arrested. "The subject is of interest to the RCMP following the tragic events in the U.S.A.," Cpl. Benoit Desjardins told The Canadian Press. "He was found with some materials of interest photos and a flight jacket.

Desjardins would not comment on any picture found.

The Star has also learned a second man, who was arrested a few days before the Tuesday attacks while trying to enter Canada for unknown reasons, was carrying a similar photo.

He was being held at the Niagara Detention Centre in Thorold, near St. Catharines, on immigration grounds but was handed over to FBI agents at the border, sources said.

The whereabouts of the man at the Thorold detention centre is not known. The transfer occurred during a 1 1/2-hour lockdown of the facility.

"The person also had maps and directions to the World Trade Center in his property," one source said.

An FBI spokesperson in Buffalo said he wasn't aware of anyone from Thorold being handed over to the FBI.

Both Immigration Canada and RCMP spokespersons refused comment on the cases.


Copyright 2001 Toronto Star Newspapers, Ltd.

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