Toronto terror arrests and the enduring appeal of ISIS

The arrest of a father and son accused of planning a mass casualty attack in Toronto on behalf of ISIS shows the enduring appeal of the group’s propaganda.

Five years after it was defeated in Syria, where it committed scores of atrocities, the so-called Islamic State continues to inspire violence far from the Middle East.

The alleged plot disrupted by this week’s arrests in Toronto involved bladed weapons, specifically an axe and machete, which were seized by police.

Ahmed and Mostafa Eldidi were charged with six terrorism offences, court records obtained by Global News show. They are accused of planning an attack for the benefit of ISIS, but the target remains unknown.

ISIS has ramped up its propaganda, translating it into more languages and disseminating it on more channels, said Colin P. Clarke, director of research at the Soufan Group.

The terror group’s branch in South Asia, ISIS-K has been leading the charge, he said.

“The West has become super-focused on great power competition, so counter-terrorism is kind of an after-thought, unfortunately,” said Clarke.

Such low-sophistication attacks have long been encouraged by ISIS, which a decade ago urged its followers to use knives and vehicles as weapons.

Canada has experienced eight attacks linked to ISIS since 2014, the year the terror group was formed and began calling for killings in Western countries.

Since then, ISIS followers have attacked a Toronto Canadian Tire, and shot a family at their Mississauga takeout restaurant, Chicken Land.

A woman was bludgeoned to death with a hammer on a Scarborough sidewalk in 2020, and a bus passenger was stabbed in Surrey, B.C., in April 2023.

A plot to attack Ottawa’s Jewish community, which resulted in the arrests of youths in December and February, was also allegedly linked to ISIS.

ISIS has ramped up its propaganda in recent months, calling for “lone wolf” attacks against Christians and Jews in an audio address released in March.

The terrorist group has also been focused on fomenting violence at the Paris Olympics as it tries to reassert its relevance after losing its hold in Syria and Iraq.

French authorities claim to have stopped a planned attack on the Olympic soccer venue with the arrest of a Chechen man suspected of acting for ISIS.

Trending Now

Before than, ISIS killed about 100 in Iran, and more than 130 in Russia when a team of gunmen opened fire on concertgoers at Crocus City Hall.

Before he was captured in Syria in 2019, Canadian Mohammed Khalifa was a key part of the ISIS propaganda operation.

The former Toronto IT worker, who left Canada in 2013 for Syria, used his English-language skills to narrate ISIS execution videos.

After he was flown to the U.S. to be brought to justice, prosecutors called Khalifa one of the “most prolific propagandists” in ISIS.

Not only did he produce gory videos used by ISIS to incite attacks and recruit, but he also executed two Syrian soldiers, the U.S. Attorney’s Office wrote.

“The defendant’s proficiency with the English language, intelligence and communication skills made him a valuable asset to the Islamic State’s cause,” they argued.

The prosecutors said propaganda was central to the terrorist group, which used the materials to “recruit new members by spreading violent messages to active supporters and passive sympathizers.”

“Thus, the role of communication and propaganda becomes essential to the mission of terrorism: increase the frequency and intensity of violent events, promote anti-democratic values, instill fear, and divide populations and governments.”

“The Islamic State of Iraq and al- Sham, or ISIS, employed media and propaganda masterfully as part of its campaign of terror during the 2013-2018 time period.”

He pleaded guilty on Dec. 10, 2022.

Stewart.Bell@globalnews.ca