Authorities in Canada have arrested four men in Quebec, including two currently serving in the Canadian Armed Forces, in connection with what the Royal Canadian Mounted Police describe as a case of “ideologically motivated violent extremism.”
According to a statement issued by the RCMP on Tuesday, three of the accused, all in their mid-twenties, had allegedly been preparing to form an anti-government militia.
Their plan, police say, was to “forcibly take possession of land in the Québec City area.”
“To achieve this, [the three men] took part in military-style training, as well as shooting, ambush, survival and navigation exercises,” the statement said. “They also conducted a scouting operation. A variety of firearms, some prohibited, as well as high-capacity magazines and tactical equipment were allegedly used in these activities.”
All three have been charged with facilitating terrorist activity. The fourth suspect, a man in his early thirties, is facing multiple weapons and explosives-related charges.
The four appeared before a court in Quebec City on Tuesday, the RCMP noted.
CNN reported that efforts are underway to contact legal representatives for the accused.
This development follows Canada’s recent decision to list several white supremacist and neo-Nazi organizations as terrorist entities for the first time.
Authorities said a major search operation conducted near Quebec City in January 2024 yielded a substantial weapons cache: “16 explosive devices, 83 firearms and accessories, approximately 11,000 rounds of ammunition of various calibres, nearly 130 magazines, four pairs of night vision goggles and military equipment.”
Corporal Erique Gasse, spokesperson for the RCMP, told CNN the investigation had been in motion since March 2023. He said the group had used a private Instagram account to “promote guns” and recruit members for their militia.
According to Gasse, the men also used the social media platform to market military-style training sessions held in Quebec and Ontario.
However, he declined to specify the ideology behind their alleged plot or reveal the exact location of the land targeted.
“It’s a good thing we caught them when we did,” Gasse remarked.
While the RCMP did not name the individuals affiliated with the Canadian Armed Forces, the Department of National Defence confirmed awareness of the charges against “two active members of the Canadian Armed Forces.”
“The Canadian Armed Forces is taking these allegations very seriously and has fully participated in the investigation,” a departmental spokesperson said in a statement.
Concerns about extremism within Canada’s military ranks have persisted for years. A 2022 government report warned that the armed forces remain vulnerable to infiltration by extremist elements, stating: “The suspected presence of members of extremist groups within [the Department of National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces] is a pressing moral, social and operational issue.”