"Canadian Idol" Performer Charged with Terrorism

(AP)  A man who appeared on Canada's version of "American Idol" was the third person arrested as part of an alleged plot against targets in Canada and abroad, police said Thursday.

The two other suspects made a brief appearance in court on Thursday on charges they had plans to make bombs and had plans to use them.

Police arrested Hiva Alizadeh and Misbahuddin Ahmed in Ottawa on Wednesday and Khurram Syed Sher in London, Ontario on Thursday. Alizadeh, 30, and Ahmed, 26, appeared in court Thursday. All three are Canadian.

Sher, 28, appeared on the reality show "Canadian Idol" in 2008 in which he sings a comical version of Avril Lavigne's "Complicated," complete with dance moves that include a moonwalk. He told the judges he's from Pakistan and likes hockey, music and acting.

YouTube: Khurram Sher Canadian Idol Audition

Police allege the men had plans and schematics to make improvised explosive devices. Police seized 50 electronic circuit boards which they say could be used as remote-control triggers for bombs. They said one of the men was trained overseas to make explosive booby traps, but did not specify which one.

Police say they moved in on the men to prevent them from sending money to terror groups in Afghanistan.

"The arrests have prevented the gathering of bombs and the execution of one or many terrorist attacks," RCMP Chief Supt. Serge Therriault said.

Therriault said details on the targets would be released in court. Police allege they conspired with an additional three named individuals to "knowingly facilitate terrorist activities" in Canada and abroad. Police say the plot ranged from Canada to Iran, Afghanistan, Dubai and Pakistan, but did not elaborate.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the arrests should remind Canadians that they are not immune to terrorism.

"The networks that threaten us are worldwide. They exist not only in remote countries but they have - through globalization and through the Internet - they have links through our country and all through the world," Harper said.

A judge remanded Alizadeh and Ahmed in custody until they appear again, by video, next Wednesday.

Police said Sher is a doctor in St. Thomas, Ontario, and that Ahmed is an X-ray technician in Ottawa.

Ahmed's lawyer, Ian Carter, said the charges are serious and his client, a husband and father, could be put away "for a long time."

"He is in shock. That's all I can say," Carter said.

Police descended on a home in Canada's national capital of Ottawa early Wednesday.

The arrests come four years after the apprehension of the so-called Toronto 18, suspects in a homegrown terror plot that involved the attempted setting off of truck bombs in front of Canada's main stock exchange and two government buildings. The ringleaders and others have been convicted.

Canadian Security Intelligence Service director Dick Fadden alluded to the possibility of other homegrown terrorist cases in comments to a Parliament public safety committee last month.

[mah1121]

This is amazing...there's a TV show called Canadian Idol?

[daffy64]

Yeah. It's just as lame as the American one. Trust me.

[erasmus111]

There is no Canadian Idol. It's been gone for a couple of years now.

[notparicular]

Not all Muslimm is a terrorist. But most terrorists are Muslimm. It is not a case of poverty ridden Muslimms turning against the world. A substantial number of terrorists and their leaders are from well-to-do and professional Musslimm families. Why is this?

[WhoItBe]

Way to go Canada! Yes, there is no country other than maybe Iran, Saudie, etc that won't have terrorists attacking them. Let's hear from all the Muslims condeming these terrorists, please.

[slappy-jones]

Well, they can speak for themselves. The link has all quotes, and you'll be there all day:

http://www.muhajabah.com/otherscondemn.php

[Simifanene]

Even our enemy dances and sings. It's time for an armistice. We're all sick of these war's. Our enemy would stop terrorism is we bent a little and came to terms. To start with, we all must agree that there is only one God and that he is the same God of all. No matter what faith's name he has been given. The Jewish God is the Muslum God and the Christian God is the same, singletary God. All faith's have received revolations, all true. It's time to agree to religious freedom. It's time to feed the hungry and bring them into the world economy. We're Capitalist. We can help these people and make a profit if just tried to be fair. I call for a 90 day armistace. What would it hurt? Maybe talks could stop terrorism, and solve some of their grievances? We're paying a high price year after year with little results. Is there a smarter way to handle the bitterness, hate, revenge and hunt down of each other? Even our enemy dances and sings.

[FredC1212]

Are you speaking for terrorists in general?

Or just God?

And thank you for your call for a 90 day, "armistace".

But rather than a limited armistice, how about an open ended one, with no time limit. Like in Korea.

That way the terrorists can stay behind their lines, and we can stay behind ours.

Perhaps for the next thousand years.