Canada adds four more groups to designated terrorist list
The Canadian government has designated four new groups as terrorist entities, citing the threat of violent extremism and online radicalization.
The Canadian government has designated four new groups as terrorist entities, citing the threat of violent extremism and online radicalization.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree announced Wednesday that the groups 764, Maniac Murder Cult, Terrorgram Collective and Islamic State–Mozambique have been formally listed under the Criminal Code.
The designation makes it a criminal offence for anyone in Canada, or Canadians abroad, to knowingly deal with property owned or controlled by the listed entities. Any assets linked to the groups in Canada must be frozen and reported to authorities. Providing financial or material support is also prohibited. The listing can also be used by immigration officials when assessing admissibility to Canada.
Three of the groups — 764, Maniac Murder Cult and Terrorgram Collective — are classified by the government as transnational ideologically motivated violent extremist networks. Public Safety Canada said the groups use online platforms, including social media and gaming spaces, to recruit, radicalize and incite violence, often targeting young or vulnerable individuals.
Canada is the first country to designate 764 as a terrorist entity, a move the department described as a leadership step in addressing emerging forms of ideologically motivated violent extremism.
Islamic State–Mozambique is an affiliate of ISIS operating in southeastern Africa.
“The threat posed by ideologically motivated violent extremism, whether it is in the real world or online, is extremely serious,” Anandasangaree said in a statement. “The groups we have just listed prey upon people who are at-risk, especially our youth, and they must be stopped.”
The announcement comes as Ottawa removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism and lifted its designation of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, a former Al-Qaeda affiliate that Syrian authorities say has since been dissolved.
Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani said Damascus welcomed the move as part of its efforts toward stability and reconstruction following recent political changes.
The four new designations bring Canada’s terrorist list to 90 entities total.