Two members of Canada's armed forces have been charged for alleged involvement in a plot to form an “anti-government militia” and forcibly take land in Quebec. Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) arrested four people in total, and said three of the suspects had taken “concrete actions to facilitate terrorist activity”.
24-year-old Marc-Aurèle Chabot, 25yo Raphaël Lagacé and 24yo Simon Angers-Audet were charged with facilitating terrorist activity following their arrests. They also face additional charges relating to the alleged illegal storage of guns and the possession of explosives and prohibited devices. Police said a fourth suspect – 33yo Matthew Forbes, was charged with possessing guns, prohibited devices and explosives, among other offenses.
The trio of twenty-year-olds "took part in military-style training, as well as shooting, ambush, survival and navigation exercises. They also conducted a scouting operation.” The group was allegedly using a variety of guns – some prohibited – as well as high-capacity magazines and tactical equipment such as grenades and night-vision goggles. The training reportedly took place between June 2021 and January last year in Quebec City and Montreal as well as Rolphton and Petawawa in Ontario.
Two of the suspects were active members of Canada's armed forces. “The Canadian armed forces is taking these allegations very seriously and has fully participated in the investigation led by the RCMP,” the department said. It has not been confirmed which of the four suspects were in the military.
Police said investigations into the plot began in March 2023, with the force conducting searches in January last year that led to the seizure of 16 explosive devices, some 11,000 rounds of ammunition and other weapons in Quebec City. Cpl Erique Gasse described the case as “ideologically motivated violent extremism”.
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