Canada targeted for terrorist attacks by Hamas, Israelis

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Canada targeted for terrorist attacks by Hamas, Israelis say
Canadian student allegedly trained in Mideast

Zev Singer
CanWest News Service


Friday, December 05, 2003

OTTAWA - A Canadian citizen arrested last month in Gaza was planning to carry out attacks in Canada on behalf of the terrorist group Hamas, the Israeli government said Thursday.

Jamal Akkal, a 23-year-old former University of Windsor student, made his first appearance in an Israeli court Thursday. Israel calls him Jammal Zakaria Abd Al Hadi al-Akel. His hearing was adjourned for another two weeks.

Officials with the Israeli Embassy in Ottawa said he had received training in weapons use -- including explosives manufacture and sniping -- as part of planning for a Hamas terror cell in North America.

Three weeks ago, Canadian officials with the Department of Foreign Affairs said they were informed by the Israeli government that Akkal had been arrested on Nov. 1 in Rafah, Gaza, for "suspected terrorist activities."

Akkal's family has said he was in Gaza looking for a wife.

The Israeli Embassy said in a statement Thursday that Akkal has told Israel's intelligence service, Shin Bet, he was recruited by Hamas's military wing on his trip to Gaza in October and attended training sessions.

"The purpose of the training, as explained to him by his instructors, was to carry out a series of terror attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets in North America," the Israeli statement said.

Ofir Gendelman, a spokesman for the embassy, said the case represents a new level of aggression from Hamas.

"What is extraordinary is that it's the first time in which Hamas has planned to carry out terrorist attacks in North America," he said.

"Until now, Hamas has been concentrating on carrying out terrorist attacks, suicide attacks within Israel and the territories and in some cases Jordan.

"This is the first time in which we see Hamas more like al-Qaeda, operating outside, trying to hit Israeli and Jewish interests or targets abroad."

Reynald Doiron, a spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs, said officials from the Canadian Embassy are monitoring the situation.

"The first hearing took place today and two officials from our embassy attended the hearing and what our officials have reported is that the court decided to extend the investigation for 15 days after an agreement on that was reached between prosecution and defence," Doiron said.

He said the Canadian government cannot comment on allegations that Akkal was planning attacks in Canada.

"We don't have that information. If we had it we would not comment, given the fact that the case is under judicial review.

"We are not commenting on cases that are before courts.

"Presumption of innocence does exist," he said.

Reached at his home Thursday, Akkal's nephew, Zakariya, said he didn't know anything about his uncle's situation, and refused to answer questions about the subject.

Ottawa Citizen

Source

[wx247]

This is a shocking development... at least to me.