Canadians who couldn't sit in the courtroom now have the chance to view a key piece of Crown evidence in the trial of a terror suspect arrested as part of the group formerly known as the Toronto 18.
An American organization released the video of the group of men rounded up in a massive RCMP terror sweep two years ago who authorities claimed had plotted attacks targeting the prime minister, the Parliament buildings and major institutions around the GTA. The footage shows the men in camouflage taking in part in alleged terror training exercises in the winter.
The Nine-Eleven Finding Answers Foundation posted the two-and-a-half minute video on its website.
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Click here to watch it
) The U.S. group obtained it from a British court after it was presented at the trial of a man convicted of spreading terrorist propaganda. That man allegedly has links to the Toronto suspects.
It was used as evidence in the trial of one of the Toronto suspects who can't be identified because he was a youth at the time of his arrest and its release comes just one week before a verdict is expected in his case. This video was shown in open court in the summer and the judge denied a request to allow it to be broadcast on television or the Internet.
The so-called Toronto 18 is now only 11. Ten other men are also facing trial and their names can't be printed under a publication ban.
This is the first time a key Crown exhibit has been shown outside the courtroom. In the video, the only clearly identifiable face is that of police informant, Mubin Shaikh. A handgun and a paintball gun are the only weapons shown at the alleged terror camp.
It also shows men hiking through the snowy woods with one of them hoisting up a black flag shouting "Allah."
The Crown alleges this video was made for recruitment purposes. The lawyer representing the suspect first to stand trial has said the alleged terror plot was a fantasy and nothing else.