Man who allegedly tried to join ISIL charged

• A man arrested by Toronto police last year for assault and threatening was charged with terrorism on Wednesday after the investigation turned up evidence he had allegedly tried to join the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Pamir Hakimzadah is to appear in Ontario court on Thursday to face a single count of l eaving Canada to participate in the activities of a terrorist group, the RCMP said in a brief press release.

The terrorism charge following an “extensive national security investigation” that began in January, 2016, police said, adding, “at no time during the course of this investigation was there any risk to public safety.”

Hakimzadah was already facing charges of uttering threats, assault causing bodily harm and assault laid by Toronto police on June 27, 2016. It was during that investigation that the RCMP was alerted to his suspected attempt to join ISIL.

In the fall of 2014, Hakimzadah had travelled to Turkey, allegedly with the intention of joining the terrorist group, the RCMP said. But he was detained by Turkish authorities and returned to Canada. He is currently in custody.

“As Canada’s national police f orce, t he RCMP works with our partners to ensure the comprehensive and timely response to terrorist criminal activity and national security criminal investigations both at home and abroad” said Supt. Lise Crouch, who heads the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team in Toronto.

The 2016 Public Report on the Terrorist Threat to Canada said that about 180 “individuals with a nexus to Canada” were suspected of participating in terrorist activities overseas, up from 130 the previous year.

More t han half were thought to be in Turkey, Iraq or Syria. The report said the government was aware of about 60 more who had returned to Canada, raising concerns they could use their “skills, experience and relationships” to recruit or plan attacks in Canada.