The RCMP announced terrorism-related charges against three Ottawa men on Tuesday afternoon after one of the men was taken into custody.
Awso Peshdary, 25, was arrested and charged with participation in the activity of a terrorist group and facilitating activity for a terrorist group.
The RCMP laid terrorism charges in absentia against John Maguire for terrorism activities, who appeared in an ISIS recruiting video, and against Khadar Khalib, 23, for leaving Canada to participate in terrorist activities. Both individuals are from Ottawa and are members of ISIS, according to the RCMP.
The RCMP say that although it was reported that Maguire was killed in Syria, they haven’t received substantial evidence.
“We seek to bring these individuals back to Canada to face the full extent of the law,” said the Chief Supt. Jennifer Strachan of the RCMP.
The arrest comes “following a national security criminal investigation by the RCMP-led Integrated National Security Enforcement Team,” the RCMP said in a press release.
Strachan told reporters that the individuals charged were involved with radicalization.
“We need to remain vigilant against a threat that is persistent, multi-faceted and unpredictable,” Strachan said.
Last month, the RCMP arrested twins Ashton and Carlos Larmond, as well as Suliman Mohamed with similar terrorism-related charges.