QUEBEC CITY — A 24-year-old man from Quebec City was arrested this week after a federal national-security investigation that alleges he intended to carry out a violent act in Canada on behalf of the Islamic State and had gathered information to make a poison or chemical weapon.
Investigation and arrest
The Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET), led by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, says the probe began in April and culminated in the arrest on Wednesday of the man, identified by police as Louay Angoud.
Mounties charged him with several terrorism-related offences, including participating in the activities of a terrorist group. Authorities say he is not a Canadian citizen and was in the country without legal status at the time of his arrest. He was scheduled to appear at the Montreal courthouse on Thursday.
Threat assessment and public safety
Investigators told reporters that, at the time officers took Angoud into custody, he did not possess the materials needed to carry out the alleged plan. RCMP Cpl. Martina Pillarova told media that there was no immediate danger.
“He did not have any products or anything else he could have used, so there was no imminent danger.”
The RCMP’s Federal Policing Eastern Region issued a news release underscoring the force’s prioritization of countering radicalization to violence and religiously motivated violent extremism.
Charges and penalties
Police have said the accused faces multiple terrorism-related charges. The allegations have not been tested in court. The offences mentioned carry penalties that range from 10 years to life imprisonment.
| Allegation | Penalties (as cited by police) |
|---|---|
| Participating in the activities of a terrorist group | Up to life imprisonment |
| Other terrorism-related charges | Range cited: 10 years to life |
Community and legal context
The arrest comes amid heightened sensitivity in Canada to online radicalization and the use of the internet by extremist groups to inspire attacks and provide technical guidance. INSET teams combine RCMP and partner-agency resources to investigate threats to national security, including alleged plots that cross provincial boundaries or involve foreign-directed extremism.
Federal authorities did not release details about how the suspect allegedly communicated with purported Islamic State members or what specific information he had gathered about constructing a poison or chemical device. Police sources emphasised that there was no stockpile of chemicals or ingredients found with the accused at the time of his arrest.
What authorities are saying
The RCMP called countering radicalization to violence a priority for the federal government and reiterated its commitment to tackling religiously motivated violent extremism.
“Countering radicalization to violence is a top priority for the Government of Canada. The RCMP remains committed to countering religiously motivated violent extremism,”
Those statements were included in the RCMP’s news release from the Federal Policing Eastern Region.
Next steps and public information
The accused is due to appear in court and the charges will proceed through the criminal justice system. As with any allegation, the courts will determine guilt or innocence after evidence is presented and tested. The RCMP and INSET will continue their work as required by investigators, but police have not provided further operational details.
- When: Investigation began in April; arrest made Wednesday.
- Who: 24-year-old Quebec City resident, named by police as Louay Angoud.
- Allegations: Communicating with Islamic State members and researching how to build a poison or chemical weapon; charged with terrorism-related offences.
Members of the public with information related to national-security threats are asked to contact their local police or the RCMP. As this matter proceeds through the courts, further disclosures will be subject to legal process and police updates.
Reporting for WE NEWS in Quebec, this account relies on statements released by the RCMP and court scheduling information. The accused’s allegations have not been proven in court and no additional operational details have been released by investigators.
