Ottawa-Handing out what is described as the stiffest sentence since Canadian terrorism laws came into effect in 2001, an Ontario Superior Court justice imposed a life-in-jail sentence plus nine years on the man found guilty of being one of the “directing minds” in a terrorist group plotting to explode fertilizer bombs in Toronto. “The potential for loss of life existed on a scale never before seen in Canada,” the Canadian press reported Judge Bruce Durno saying, as he read aloud his 48-page decision. Durno described Zakaria Amara, 24, as the one who hatched nearly the entire plot of the Toronto 18 that the judge said would have resulted in “the most horrific crime Canada has ever seen.” Amara, who has been in custody since his arrest June 2, 2006, pleaded guilty on Oct. 8, 2009, to one count of “committing an indictable offense in association with a terrorist group, namely doing anything with intent to cause an explosion that was likely to cause serious bodily harm or death or was likely to cause serious damage to property contrary.” He also pleaded guilty to one count of “knowingly participating in or contributing to any activity of a terrorist group for the purpose of enhancing the ability of the terrorist group to facilitate or carry out a terrorist activity.” Amara has 30 days to decide whether he will appeal. He is reportedly eligible for parole in approximately six years. Judge Durno also sentenced Saad Gaya, 22, to 12 years for an offense under the anti-terrorism act. Police caught Saad Gaya and his friend Saad Khalid (already sentenced to 14 years) unloading fake fertilizer from a truck.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain