Updated on
Summary
Zakaria Amara, considered the ringleader of the Toronto 18 extremist Muslim group that planned Al-Qaeda style bombings of Toronto landmarks in 2006, was given a life sentence, the stiffest penalty yet imposed under Canadian anti-terrorism laws; where as Saad Gaya has been sentenced for 12 years.The sentence, handed down in a Toronto area court, is the fourth custodial term handed out in the sprawling case, and follows a 12 year sentence given earlier in the day to admitted co-conspirator Saad Gaya. Amara, 24, pleaded guilty in October to charges of planning explosions likely to cause serious bodily harm or death and of participating in the activities of a terrorist group. His sentence includes a life term for the first charge, and a nine year term for the second, the federal prosecutor's office said in a statement. Given credit for time already served, he will be eligible for parole in just over six years. Prosecutors say Amara was the leader of a group that had planned to detonate truck bombs near targets such as the Toronto Stock Exchange, the CN Tower, an Ontario military base and the Toronto offices of the national spy agency. The aim was to force Canada to withdraw troops from Afghanistan.
