Train plotter accuses Canada of 'colonizing' Afghanistan
Esseghaier says his aim was to protest the US-led military mission in Afghanistan.
OTTAWA (AFP) - A Tunisian-born scientist accused of plotting to derail a passenger train in Canada said in a newspaper interview published Wednesday his aim was to protest the US-led military mission in Afghanistan.
"My aim is very simple: to give them a message," Chiheb Esseghaier told the daily National Post.
"But the problem is that Canada, the Canadian government I mean, it don t want to listen."
"Canada go and hurt Muslims in Afghanistan and they took their land and they kill them, and supporting Americans who kill women and babies," he said.
"And after that, what do they do, Canada? The Canadian government they start to cry out terrorism, terrorism. Like someone, who make fire and after that he say smoke, smoke. "
Esseghaier and another man, Raed Jaser, face terrorism charges in what police say was a plot with "direction and guidance" from Al-Qaeda to attack a passenger train in the Toronto area.
Canadian authorities have been tight-lipped about their ongoing investigation of the alleged plot, while a publication ban prevents reporting of any evidence presented in court.
But local media have said the two men were planning to blow up a passenger train as it crossed a bridge near Niagara Falls on the Canada-US border.
Both men were arrested last April. They are scheduled to appear in court on February 21 to set a trial date.
