Montreal teens facing terrorism charges
Student couple accused of possessing explosives, trying to join terror group
MONTREAL— A young Montreal couple arrested last week is now facing terrorism charges after investigators claim to have found explosive substances and evidence the 18-yearolds planned to join an overseas terror group.
Sabrine Djermane looked stunned as she was led into the prisoner’s box Monday. She was followed in by El Mahdi Jamali, her boyfriend, who whispered under his breath to her throughout the brief appearance, continuing even after they were warned against talking by a guard. Both are registered as students at Collège de Maisonneuve, a junior college in downtown Montreal. They had been living together at an apartment near the school before being arrested last month.
The couple was supposed to seek bail on Monday. Instead they learned of accusations that, if substantiated, could send them to prison. The charges include: Attempting between Jan. 1, and April14, to leave the country to join in a terrorist group;
Building or possessing an explosive substance; facilitating a terrorist activity between Feb. 4, and April 14.
Carrying out a criminal act (possessing explosive substances) for the benefit of a terrorist group.
A friend of Jamali who was among the dozen supporters and family members in the court audience, wrote on Facebook that his friend appeared pale, tired and had clearly lost weight since the couple was arrested early last week.
The friend noted that Djermane was not wearing the Islamic head scarf she normally wore in public.
“Stand by them. They are innocent. I feel it and I know it,” the friend wrote. “Pray for him. He is simply the victim of an incredible injustice.” Family members of Jamali and Djermane were clearly distraught by the charges, but did not speak to the media. Marc Giroux, Jamali’s defence lawyer, said the young man’s family was “appalled, surprised and disappointed.”
“It’s not just because you’re a Muslim that you’re a necessarily a terrorist. (Jamali’s family) seem like very good folks. They’re kind of surprised at the nature of the accusations. That being said, are the accusations for real? Are they backed up? Are they serious? We don’t know yet.”
Djermane’s father has previously said his daughter was “a victim” in the matter and that Jamali had been determined to marry the girl. Jamali’s friend also referred to Djermane as his “wife,” but it is unclear if the two were legally married.
The criminal charges filed against Jamali and Djermane are the most substantive terror-related development since last fall’s lone-wolf terror strike in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., in which Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent was run down by car driven by Martin Couture-Rouleau, a young man who had been under RCMP surveillance after trying to leave the country to join the Islamic State terror group. In mid-January seven Quebecers successfully fled the country on flights bound for Turkey, where they apparently hoped to cross into Syria and join Islamic State.
Five of them were also students at Collège de Maisonneuve, where Jamali was enrolled in the sciences program and Djermane was studying nursing.
It is not known if the seven students knew each other, although it appears that a number of them may have had friends in common.