Canada train suspects challenge case

Two suspects in a plot to derail a Canadian passenger train have challenged the case against them.

In a Montreal court, Chiheb Esseghaier, 30, said the case against him was based only on "appearances".

A lawyer for Raed Jaser, 35, said he would "defend himself vigorously", outside his hearing in Toronto. Officials said the alleged plot had support from Al-Qaeda in Iran, although there was no sign of state sponsorship.

Canadian authorities said the two suspects were arrested in Montreal and Toronto on Monday.

Mr Jaser is understood to be a United Arab Emirates national of Palestinian origin, though his lawyer points out he is a permanent Canadian resident who has lived there 20 years. Mr Esseghaier is thought to be of Tunisian origin.

Read more about it at: BBC
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Pakistan arrests French al Qaeda operative from Iranian border

Pakistan has captured a French national considered to be a prominent al Qaeda member with reported links to European jihadist groups, security forces said Wednesday, following a raid near the Iranian border.

Naamen Meziche was captured in a raid near the border with Iran, officials said, without specifying when this had happened. Western media reports have described Meziche as an al-Qaida operative with links to European jihadi groups believed to have been living until now in either Pakistan or Iran.

Read details: France24

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Al-Qaida Bomber Was Double Agent

It has been reported by the U.S. media that a man sent by al-Qaida's branch in Yemen to blow up a U.S.-bound airliner was actually a double agent working for the United States, who infiltrated the terror network and volunteered to carry out the suicide attack.

Unidentified American and foreign intelligence officials provided details of the bomb plot. They told how the would-be bomber turned over his sophisticated explosive device to U.S. and Saudi officials, and also provided information that led to a successful airstrike against an al-Qaida leader in Yemen.

The New York Times said the details emerging Tuesday night amounted to “an extraordinary intelligence coup.” 

Read more: VOA

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