The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) revealed the apprehension of a minor in Montreal linked to terrorism accusations. According to an RCMP statement released on Friday, the detained “young man” was allegedly planning an assault targeting a local school. It is reported that he utilized artificial intelligence in the alleged attack planning and disseminated threatening messages via the platform Telegram, targeting diverse groups like Muslims, Haitians, and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, as per RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Érique Gasse.

Sgt. Gasse mentioned that the FBI provided tips a couple of weeks prior indicating the individual’s intentions to carry out an attack. The arrest took place at the minor’s residence on Friday morning as part of an inquiry by the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team, which focuses on monitoring and disrupting criminal activities of individuals or groups posing threats to Canada’s national security.

The detained individual is currently being interviewed by investigators while a search of his residence for electronic devices and pertinent evidence related to the investigation is ongoing. The RCMP’s objective with the police operation was to thwart the suspected activities of the individual and to secure a peace bond for monitoring and de-escalation efforts. The minor is scheduled to appear in youth court on Saturday morning, with the possibility of facing charges at a later stage.