Canadian military personnel among four arrested in Quebec extremist case

Canadian military personnel among four arrested in Quebec extremist case

Four men, including two active members of the Canadian Armed Forces, were arrested and charged in Quebec. The Canadian police speak of a case of “ideologically motivated violent extremism” in this context.

Planned militia formation in Quebec

Three of the men, all in their 20s, had allegedly "planned to form an anti-government militia" with the aim of "forcibly seizing land in the Quebec City region," the Royal Canadian Police (RCMP) said in a statement opinion stated on Tuesday.

Military training and weapons storage

“To achieve this, [the three men] participated in military training, as well as gunnery, ambush, survival and navigation exercises,” the statement continued. "They also conducted a reconnaissance mission. A variety of firearms, some banned, as well as high-powered charging stations and tactical equipment were allegedly used in these activities."

The three men were charged with supporting terrorist activities. A fourth man, in his early 30s, faces numerous weapons and explosives-related charges, police said.

Court date and investigation

The four men appeared in court in Quebec City on Tuesday, the statement said. CNN is attempting to contact their legal representatives.

During a January 2024 search near Quebec City, police officers found "16 explosive devices, 83 firearms and accessories, approximately 11,000 cartridges of various calibers, nearly 130 magazines, four night vision devices and military equipment."

Recruiting via social media

Corporal Erique Gasse, an RCMP spokesman, told CNN on Tuesday that the investigation began in March 2023. He explained that the men involved were “promoting weapons” and trying to recruit people into their militia through a private Instagram account.

Through that account, they offered military training in Quebec and Ontario, Gasse added.

Extremism in the Canadian Armed Forces

Gasse did not provide information about the specific ideology that allegedly motivated the men or the location of the land near Quebec City that they supposedly wanted to take over. “It’s a good thing we caught them in time,” said Gasse.

The RCMP did not disclose which of the men are members of the Canadian Armed Forces. Canada's Department of National Defense told CNN it is aware of the charges against "two active members of the Canadian Armed Forces."

“The Canadian Armed Forces takes these allegations very seriously and has cooperated fully with the investigation,” a ministry spokesperson said in an email.

Extremism within the Canadian Armed Forces is a long-standing problem. In one Government report from 2022 It was found that the country's military was "not immune to infiltration" by members of extremist groups.

“The suspected presence of members of extremist groups within the Department of National Defense/Canadian Armed Forces is a pressing moral, social and operational issue,” the report concluded.