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Four people, including two active members of the Canadian Armed Forces, have been arrested over an extremist plot to forcibly take possession of land in Quebec.
Marc-Aurèle Chabot, Raphaël Lagacé, and Simon Angers-Audet are accused of facilitating terrorist activity and trying to ‘create anti-government militia’.
The trio, who police say ‘took concrete actions to facilitate terrorist activity’, were arrested early on Tuesday in Quebec City.
They allegedly took part in military-style training and conducted a scouting operation, court documents reveal. A variety of firearms, some prohibited, as well as high-capacity magazines and tactical equipment were allegedly used in these activities.
The suspects, who appear to be amateurs in their recruitment efforts, used a private Instagram group to try to gain members for their militia.
Chabot, 24, currently serves at a Canadian Forces base in Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, while Lagacé, 25, is a former Royal Canadian Air Cadets civilian instructor. Angers-Audet, 24, is also a former military member.
The three face additional charges relating to the alleged illegal storage of firearms, and possession of explosives and prohibited devices.
Police said that a fourth suspect, Matthew Forbes, 33, has been charged with possessing firearms, prohibited devices and explosives, among other offenses.
Firearms seized in January 2024 during a national security investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police into active members of the Canadian Armed Forces are displayed at a police facility in Quebec, Canada
Firearms training is conducted, as seen in an undated still image from video, part of evidence provided by a national security investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police into active members of the Canadian Armed Forces in Quebec
The alleged terrorism-facilitation scheme occurred between June 2021 and January 2024 across several Canadian provinces, including in Quebec and Ontario, according to court documents.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) launched an investigation into the group in March 2023.
Searches conducted in January 2024 in Quebec City led to the seizure of 16 explosive devices, about 11,000 rounds of ammunition, 83 firearms and 130 magazines.
Court documents say the suspects had in their possession weapons including grenades, night-vision goggles, high-capacity magazines, and improperly stored firearms.
Many of the weapons are believed to have been stolen from a large military base in Petawawa, Ontario.
‘The three accused were planning to create anti-government militia,’ the RCMP said in a statement Tuesday.
‘To achieve this, they took part in military-style training, as well as shooting, ambush, survival and navigation exercises. They also conducted a scouting operation.’
RCMP Cpl. Erique Gasse described the case as ‘ideologically motivated violent extremism’.
Officials allege the accuse demonstrated ‘extremist anti-authority, anti-government ideology’ and wanted to establish an ‘independent land’.
While police acknowledge that the four had ‘extremist’ views, they did not disclose specifics about the suspects’ political leanings.
The suspects wanted to start an anti-government ‘community’ north of Quebec City, and allegedly used a private Instagram account to recruit members and supporters.
Firearms seized in January 2024 during a national security investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police into active members of the Canadian Armed Forces are displayed at a police facility in Quebec
The suspects wanted to start an anti-government ‘community’ north of Quebec City, and allegedly used a private Instagram account to recruit members and supporters. RCMP distributed a photo from that Instagram account showing seven people in military-style uniforms brandishing firearms
RCMP distributed a photo from that Instagram account showing seven people in military-style uniforms brandishing firearms. Gasse didn’t say who was pictured.
‘We know there were followers on that site,’ he said. ‘They were trying to recruit people who had knowledge about guns, and they were telling people where they were training in Quebec or in Ontario.’
When asked about the possibility of more arrests, Gasse said the investigation of the four suspects was complete, but new inquiries could begin if more evidence comes to light.
The suspects were arrested early Tuesday at their respective homes.
Officers wearing tactical gear set off smoke grenades at the residences before entering the homes, one of Forbes’ neighbors told The Globe & Mail.
The front door at Chabot’s home was reportedly smashed at the handle, suggesting that police forcibly entered the property.
The four men appeared before a judge at the Quebec City courthouse Tuesday and were charged with facilitating terrorist activity.
The prosecution objected to their release and the suspects remain detained, with their next court appearance scheduled for July 14.
The Department of National Defence, in an email to The Canadian Press, stated the military is ‘taking these allegations very seriously and has fully participated in the investigation led by the RCMP’.
