U.S., Canadian officials foil VIA Rail Canada terror attack

TORONTO — With the help of the FBI and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Canadian law enforcement officials announced Monday they arrested two suspects in Montreal and Toronto who were part of an Al Qaeda-linked plot to derail a New York-to-Toronto VIA Rail Canada passenger train, according to The Daily News.

The men were targeting a VIA passenger train heading north to Canada out of New York's Penn Station. Once the train had passed into Canada, the attack was to commence, sources told the Daily News. For the full story, click here.

In a press conference, police named the two accused as Chiheb Esseghaier, 30, of Montreal, and Raed Jaser, 35, from Toronto. They have been charged with conspiracy to carry out a terrorist attack and "conspiring to murder persons unknown for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a terrorist group," according to CBC News. For the full story, click here.

VIA Rail released the following statement:

Thanks to an unprecedented cooperation between law enforcement and the security units of various departments, VIA Rail and CN, at no time was there an imminent threat to the VIA Rail passengers, employees or the general public. We cooperate with all involved in ensuring the safety and security of our passengers, our employees and the public. We do not comment on law enforcement activities. We acknowledge the work and dedication of the agencies involved."