Two Arabs on trial in Canada for plotting terrorist acts are said to have been awaiting orders from Iran when they were arrested—not from the government of Iran, but from backers living in Iran near the Afghan border.
The description sounds like the pair were in cahoots with Al-Qaeda agents allowed by Iran to live and operate there. Some lived near the Afghan border.
However, the trial has not yet gotten down to identifying exactly whom they were in touch with in Iran.
The pair is accused of plotting to derail a Canadian passenger train on the line between Toronto and New York.
Raed Jaser, a Palestinian, and Chiheb Esseghaier, a Tunisian, face multiple terrorism-related charges in the alleged plot.
The trial has been hearing secret audio recordings of conversations the men had with an undercover FBI agent who gained their trust.
In one conversation, Esseghaier is heard saying that they are waiting for the “green light” from his radical Islamic brothers, whom he met on a trip to Iran.
He is heard saying they can act independently, but it would be better to have the attack carried out in conjunction with the overseas jihadists “to give them the power” and send a message that they can “do what they want.”
The conversations that are being played in court took place just before Esseghaier, Jaser and the undercover agent went to scout a location for the alleged train plot.
The alleged plan was to target a railway bridge, the court has heard. The main goal was to try to make Americans and Canadians oppose the deployment of American and Canadian troops in the Middle East.
Not-guilty pleas have been entered for Jaser and Esseghaier, who were arrested in April 2013.
