On June 2, police arrested 12 adults and five suspects younger than 18 on charges including plotting attacks with explosives on Canadian targets. The suspects are Muslim Canadians.

Learning of the group's alleged plan to bomb targets around Ontario, investigators controlled the sale and transport of the fertilizer, delivered the ammonium nitrate to them and then moved in quickly on what officials call a suspected homegrown terror ring.

When mixed with fuel oil and other ingredients, the fertilizer makes a powerful explosive.

Authorities refused to discuss the case and have revealed few details of the purported plot, or how the sting developed.

A government official said Web surfing and e-mail among the suspects led to the start of the investigation in 2004.

The Japan Times Weekly: June 10, 2006
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