Close X
Thursday, October 31, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. terror suspects build bombs ahead of alleged Canada Day plot: trial

* The Canadian Press, 03 Mar, 2015 08:57 AM

    VANCOUVER — Just days ahead of an alleged bomb plot, a British Columbia man grew fearful that he and his wife would be forced to "take the fall" if they became a liability to an Arab businessman they believed was helping them carry out their planned Canada Day attack, their trial has heard.

    In a video played at the couple's terrorism trial Monday, John Nuttall confides in his wife, Amanda Korody, that he believe they could be killed by shadowy figures up the chain of command. By the time the video was recorded on June 28, 2013, Nuttall and Korody had spent months interacting with the businessman, who was actually an undercover RCMP officer.

    "His third contingency plan is ditch us, we're expendable, save himself," Nuttall tells his wife as they are holed up in a motel near Vancouver to build bombs out of pressure-cookers.

    "If we don't have these done, there's a good chance we will be killed or set up. Do you understand? ... Someone's gotta take the fall. It's not gonna be him, OK?"

    Nuttall and Korody, recent converts to radical Islam, had no idea they were being videotaped by police in the weeks leading up to their arrest in July 2013. They are each charged with four terrorism-related offences.

    The Crown's theory is that the pair planned to detonate bombs outside the legislature in Victoria as vengeance for what they perceived to be the mistreatment of Muslims overseas.

    Their defence lawyers have asked the jury to pay close attention to the role the RCMP played in the alleged plot.

    During the six-hour video recording, the couple is seen brainstorming about which targets to attack, praying on their knees for strength and assembling the bombs.

    They banter back and forth about their motivations — jihad or justice — provide each other encouragement and excitedly discuss painting their faces red and white to disguise themselves on Canada Day.

    But Nuttall grows agitated as he messes about with glue, an electric drill, scissors and various parts of three pressure-cookers over a large table. Hours earlier, the officer told Nuttall he needed the bombs finished by morning to be ready to meet another associate who would provide explosives.

    Nuttall suggests the undercover officers will simply point the finger at him if the plan falls apart.

    "They can say, 'Well, it was Yahya who did it, he did it on his own'" Nuttall says, referring to himself by his self-proclaimed Arabic name. "I just figured this out, OK? Just today."

    In conversation that is rambling and often confuses the meaning of words, Nuttall tells Korody he believes they are part of a wide network whose tentacles stretch to the terror group al-Qaida.

    He informs her that he believes they are only privy to the nearest contact in the chain. His theory is that if their plot is discovered and authorities move in to torture them, each of them can only give up one or two names.

    Nuttall asserts that for protection Korody must always keep two items on her at all times: $40 and a knife. There are audible sounds of retching from off-screen by Korody, who is believed to be vomiting. The trial has heard she suffered from severe stomach problems.

    "Soldier, on your feet," Nuttall calls to his wife. "I need you now. I hope you're not just sitting on the edge of the toilet or something."

    Later in the video, Nuttall paces the room while speaking into a cell phone and addressing his main undercover contact.

    The call goes dead and he tells his wife that the next day they will meet the businessman's associate, who is apparently coming from Alberta.

    The Crown has told the jury the man was actually another undercover officer and that the RCMP ensured the bombs were inert.

    Nuttall and Korody both pleaded not guilty.

    Follow @TamsynBurgmann on Twitter

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Ford adding 400 jobs at Oakville, Ont., plant to produce new Edge crossover SUV

    Ford adding 400 jobs at Oakville, Ont., plant to produce new Edge crossover SUV
    OAKVILLE, Ont. — Ford Motor Co. announced the addition of 400 new jobs to its assembly plant in Oakville, Ont., Thursday as it officially launched production of the new Edge crossover SUV — a vehicle which will be built for Canada, the U.S. and a number of other countries.

    Ford adding 400 jobs at Oakville, Ont., plant to produce new Edge crossover SUV

    Levant crowdfunding campaign raises thousands for latest media venture

    Levant crowdfunding campaign raises thousands for latest media venture
    OTTAWA — Former Sun TV personality Ezra Levant is taking to crowdfunding to help back his new media venture — The Rebel.

    Levant crowdfunding campaign raises thousands for latest media venture

    Supreme Court sends Mr. Big case back for B.C. appeal court to reconsider

    Supreme Court sends Mr. Big case back for B.C. appeal court to reconsider
    OTTAWA — Then Supreme Court of Canada is telling the British Columbia Court of Appeal to take another look at a murder case that involved a Mr. Big sting by police.

    Supreme Court sends Mr. Big case back for B.C. appeal court to reconsider

    Aboriginal girl stopped chemo because she felt it would kill her: Mother

    Aboriginal girl stopped chemo because she felt it would kill her: Mother
    HAMILTON — The parents of a young aboriginal girl who died after refusing to continue chemotherapy say their daughter made the difficult decision because she felt the treatment would kill her before cancer would.

    Aboriginal girl stopped chemo because she felt it would kill her: Mother

    Rob Ford auctions tie he appears to have worn when he admitted smoking crack

    Rob Ford auctions tie he appears to have worn when he admitted smoking crack
    TORONTO — Rob Ford has more items up for auction on eBay, including what appears to be the tie he wore on Nov. 5, 2013, when he admitted to smoking crack cocaine.

    Rob Ford auctions tie he appears to have worn when he admitted smoking crack

    CP exclusive: Wynne says some sex education protesters motivated by homophobia

    CP exclusive: Wynne says some sex education protesters motivated by homophobia
    WASHINGTON — The elder statesman among all former Canadian ambassadors to the United States says he's never seen the relationship between the two governments quite this cool.

    CP exclusive: Wynne says some sex education protesters motivated by homophobia