【By Lin Chenli, Observer Net】According to reports from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and The Guardian, on July 8 local time, four men, including two active military personnel, were arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and charged with planning to establish an "anti-government militia" and "forcibly occupy land in the city of Quebec."

On that day, the RCMP stated that the group was suspected of being involved in a violent plot motivated by "ideological reasons," aiming to "forcibly occupy" land in the city of Quebec. Among the items seized by the police were explosives and assault rifles, which constitute the "largest scale" weapons cache ever found in a terrorism investigation in Canada.

Among them, Marc-Aurèle Chabot, a 24-year-old man from Quebec City, Simon Angers-Audet, a 24-year-old man from Noirmont, Quebec, and Raphaël Lagacé, a 25-year-old man from Quebec City, were charged with serious crimes such as assisting in terrorist activities and possessing weapons.

"The three defendants planned to establish an anti-government militia. To achieve this goal, they participated in military-style training, shooting, ambush, survival, and navigation exercises, as well as reconnaissance operations," the police stated in a statement.

The RCMP believes this photo shows the suspects' involvement in "military-style training." Royal Canadian Mounted Police

The fourth suspect is Matthew Forbes, a 33-year-old man from Pincourt, who was charged with possession of firearms, prohibited devices, and explosives. None of the four have pleaded guilty yet.

Other than describing the organization's intention to establish an "anti-government militia," investigators did not detail its "ideological motivation" or reveal specific goals for "forcibly occupying land in the city of Quebec."

The Office of the Chief of the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal stated in a statement that evening that Chabot and Forbes are both active military personnel, serving as lance corporals stationed at the Valcartier base. The other two were former members of the armed forces, one being a civilian instructor in the Canadian Air Force Cadet Program.

A colleague of Chabot confirmed that he served in the Royal Canadian Regiment No. 22 during the summer of last year. This colleague expressed concern about Chabot's statements against the Canadian government and then-Prime Minister Trudeau, calling these remarks "nearly treasonous."

Lagacé posted numerous photos of himself in uniform holding a gun, as well as posts opposing the Canadian firearms control bill C-21 on his personal Facebook account. The account also showed that he had participated in a "cadet program" (military training).

One of the suspects, Lagacé, his Facebook account

A spokesperson for the RCMP said the investigation began in spring 2023 and determined that the suspects' activities started in 2021. The police also accused one of the suspects of operating a social media account aimed at recruiting members.

The police mentioned that during a search conducted in Quebec City in January 2024, they seized 16 explosive devices, 83 firearms and accessories, approximately 11,000 rounds of ammunition, nearly 130 magazines, 4 pairs of night vision goggles, and other "seized military equipment," some of which were illegal firearms.

In January 2024, the police seized a large number of firearms and military equipment. Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Jessica Davis, a former intelligence analyst at the Canadian intelligence agency and president of the "Threat Intelligence Insights" consulting company, said, "This is the largest scale of equipment, weapons, and explosives ever seized in a terror incident in Canada, far exceeding any previous instance."

"This is likely among the top cases globally, especially in NATO countries where plots have been foiled, with the most seized materials. Its scale is astonishing, and we still don't know what they planned to do with these things. But based on the level of arms, they were clearly preparing for a major operation, either to recruit more people or to prepare for a siege-like action," Davis said.

She also noted that, to her knowledge, this is the first time that active-duty military personnel in Canada have been involved in terrorism charges.

The report pointed out that the issue of Canadian soldiers being influenced by "hateful views" and "extremist ideas" has long put pressure on the Canadian military. A 2022 report by the Canadian Armed Forces Systemic Racism and Discrimination Issues Research Group indicated that the number of people joining extremist groups within the Canadian Armed Forces is increasing.

In 2021, a U.S. judge sentenced Patrik Mathews, a former Canadian Army Reserve member from Manitoba, to nine years in prison for being linked to what the FBI called a "neo-Nazi conspiracy" aimed at inciting a racial war in the United States. That same year, former Canadian Armed Forces Reserve member Corey Hurren pleaded guilty to carrying loaded guns and multiple rounds of ammunition to attack the gates of the Governor General's residence, attempting to "arrest Trudeau."

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