One of the suspects in an alleged bomb plot in Ontario is accused of wanting to storm Parliament, behead the prime minister and attack a number of sites, including the CBC building in Toronto, his lawyer says. Lawyer Gary Batasar, who represents Steven Chand, also known as Abdul Shakur, made the comments on Tuesday after a court appearance in Brampton, Ont., for 15 of 17 suspects arrested under Canada’s Anti-terrorism Act on the weekend. “My client’s alleged to have been part of a plot to blow up Parliament Buildings in Canada, storm the CBC, take over the CBC, as well as, among other things, behead the prime minister,” Batasar said. Batasar said he was given an eight-page synopsis of the allegations, including storming Parliament, blowing up some of the buildings and taking politicians hostage to demand the withdrawal of Canadian troops in Afghanistan. If the demands were not met, it is alleged, the hostages would be beheaded. The documents allege that Chand, 25, personally wanted to behead Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Police allege the accused – 12 adults and five youths – were inspired by al-Qaeda and planned to make bombs to attack targets in Ontario. None of the allegations has been proven in court. Bail hearings postponed Defence lawyers asked that the bail hearings be postponed, saying they did not have enough time to prepare and had not seen the evidence against their clients. The judge granted their requests, rescheduling most of the bail hearings to June 12, and the suspects were remanded into custody. The lawyers also complained about a number of restrictions placed on their clients. They are in solitary confinement, under 24-hour surveillance and have been denied access to family members. Lawyer Donald McLeod said he and his colleagues have only been able to speak to their clients through Plexiglas and want private visits with them. The defence lawyers also alleged that clients’ rights were being violated because a guard in full riot gear was always present when a lawyer held a privileged conversation with a client. They demanded the situation be changed or said they would go to court on June 12 to get a court order to be allowed to communicate with their clients in private. Armed guards patrol courthouse As many as 400 police officers and security officials were involved in the series of raids in southern Ontario that led to the arrests on June 2 and June 3, in the largest operation carried out under the Anti-terrorism Act. The suspects arrived at the courthouse on Tuesday in unmarked police vehicles, under the watchful eye of armed guards patrolling the area. They were led inside the courtroom shackled together in groups of four, wearing prison-issued white T-shirts and grey pants. Security was tight but appeared somewhat scaled back compared with the first court appearance of the suspects on Saturday. During that appearance, snipers could be seen on rooftops and heavily armed police officers were posted inside and outside the courtrooms. Scores of media from both Canada and the United States lined up at the courthouse Tuesday to secure a spot inside. Family members of the suspects were met by throngs of reporters as they entered. Charges against suspects All the adult suspects face terrorism-related charges:
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Source: http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/06/06/suspects-hearing.html