Judge grants bail to Ottawa teen accused in ISIS terror plot targeting Jews

A 17-year-old accused of plotting a violent attack against Ottawa’s Jewish community was granted bail under strict conditions, sparking debate and concern as he awaits trial next year.

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A 17-year-old accused of plotting a violent attack against Ottawa’s Jewish community was granted bail under strict conditions, sparking debate and concern as he awaits trial next year. He was arrested alongside another teen in connection with the alleged plot.

The boys, both minors, were local to Ottawa and arrested last December and February as part of two separate RCMP investigations over what police called a terrorist plot against Ottawa’s Jewish community.

RCMP records indicate the two minors “knowingly facilitated terrorist activity by making available and exchanging instructional material and propaganda.” While specifics of their plan have not been disclosed, newly released court allegations detail the suspected target.

“They are alleged to have formed a plan last fall to violently attack Jewish persons in Ottawa, possibly through the detonation of an explosive device at a pro-Israel rally,” wrote the Department of Justice at the time.

The other teen’s bail application was denied last November.

Both accused have been held at an Ottawa juvenile detention facility since their arrests. Their trial is scheduled to begin early next year and is expected to last about 10 weeks.

Superior Court Justice Anne London-Weinstein ordered the 17-year-old’s bail be set at $50,000 from each of the accused’s parents. The youth will also have to pay $2,000 if he breaks his conditions.

The identities of both accused cannot be published because they are under 18.

The teen’s bail conditions include wearing a GPS monitor, a ban from public school and internet access, and enrolment in de-radicalization therapy with one parent present at home.

According to CBC News, the 17-year old is being released with the following charges:

The teen is charged with committing an offense for a terrorist group by conspiring with another teen, two other individuals, and a person or persons unknown to commit murder from August to December 2023. Additionally, the teen faces charges of facilitating terrorist activity by exchanging instructional material and propaganda from August to November 2023, and by seeking to acquire a prohibited firearm in December 2023.

The other teen in custody was found with acetone, oxidizer, and metal ball bearings — all common components for homemade bombs.

The teen faces several charges, including conspiring to commit murder with another teen, two other individuals and unknown persons between August and December 2023 for a terrorist group.

They are also charged with facilitating terrorist activity by exchanging instructional material and propaganda from August to November 2023, communicating instructional material about an explosive in October 2023, and instructing someone to commit terrorist activity against Jewish people that same month.

Additionally, the teen is charged with facilitating terrorist activity by possessing explosive substances (acetone, an oxidizer and metal ball bearings) on the day of their arrest in December 2023, possessing these substances with intent to endanger life, and simply possessing them.

The plot was allegedly linked to ISIS, also known as Daesh, and was “possibly accelerated” by the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, according to the Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre, a government agency.

“Although radicalization of these individuals reportedly began prior to the October 2023 Hamas attack, at least one of the individuals was reportedly in contact with DAESH overseas, and the arrests occurred during a period of DAESH calls to violence in response to the conflict,” it said.