RCMP say Quebec man linked international threats to bomb targets

By Jonathan Montpetit

MONTREAL (CP) - Canadian authorities have arrested a 35-year-old man they believe is linked to international threats to bomb targets outside Canada.

Said Namouh was arrested on conspiracy charges Wednesday morning in Maskinonge, Que., northeast of Montreal. He was picked up in connection with an Austrian investigation into online threats against targets in Austria and Germany, said RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Elaine Lavergne.

"He was plotting to explode (a device) outside of Canada," Lavergne said. "We want to reassure people that the investigation being carried out has never found a direct threat to Canada."

Namouh is slated to make a court appearance in Montreal on Friday morning.

Austrian authorities rounded up three alleged al-Qaida sympathizers earlier this week - two men and a woman, all Austrian citizens in their 20s and of Arab origin.

They believe the three suspects are tied to a video that surfaced in March threatening to attack Germany and Austria unless the two countries withdrew their personnel from Afghanistan.

A spokesman for Austria's Interior Ministry described the Quebec suspect as a man with African roots who appeared to be planning to leave Canada.

Senator Colin Kenny, chairman of the Senate standing committee on national security and defence, said the arrest was a product of a lengthy joint investigation between the RCMP and their Austrian counterparts.

"They've been working in a co-operative way with the Austrians for some time on this," he said.

Kenny said the arrest is a sign Canada's anti-terrorism initiatives are working.

"The arrests tell you that they're clearly taking action," he said. "If the arrest hadn't taken place and this guy left the country, there would be a problem somewhere."

Canadian authorities were releasing few details about Namouh on Thursday.

Austrian Interior Minister Guenther Platter made a televised remark on Thursday to the effect that the prime Austrian suspect had "close" Internet contact with Namouh.

A spokesperson for the minister said Austrian authorities have identified the prime suspect, aged 22, as operator of the Global Islamic Media Front's Web site for German-speaking countries.

The prime suspect travelled to Iraq in 2003 and, according to Austrian radio, was the head of an Islamic youth group in Austria.