The authorities say suspects Chiheb Esseghaier, 30, and Raed Jaser, 35, were arrested in Montreal and Toronto on Monday.

 

They allegedly planned to derail（脱轨） a passenger train in the greater Toronto area, but it is not clear when.

 

Iran has denied any link to the suspects being held in Canada.

 

Foreign ministry¹ spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told a press conference that the politics of extremists did not conform with those of Iran.

 

He accused Canada of following an "Iranophobic" project over the past few years.

 

The two suspects will appear in court on Tuesday for a bail² hearing.

 

 

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said the surveillance operation leading to the arrests of the two suspects was "a result of extensive collaborative efforts".

 

They said the two men were not Canadian citizens and were supported by "al-Qaeda elements in Iran" but there was no evidence of state sponsorship. 

 

Their plan was to derail a VIA train and "kill and hurt people".

 

Chief Supt Jennifer Strachan said the two men had sought to target "a specific route, but not necessarily a specific train".

 

VIA operates passenger rail services across Canada. 

 

At the same time, the RCMP said they believed the plot was in the planning stage and "there was no imminent³ threat to the general public".

 

"Each and every terrorist arrest the RCMP makes sends a message and illustrates⁴ our strong resolve to root out terrorist threats and keep Canadians and our allies safe," Assistant Commissioner⁵ James Malizia said. 

 

The RCMP also said that FBI agents from the US were involved in the operation to foil the attack. 

 

There was no connection between the plot and last week's Boston Marathon bombings, a US justice department official was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency.

点击收听单词发音