Canadian authorities have arrested three men in Toronto in connection with a series of alleged attempted kidnappings targeting women and members of the Jewish community, police announced Friday. The suspects — Waleed Khan, 26, Osman Azizov, 18, and Fahad Sadaat, 19 — were arrested after a joint investigation by the Toronto Police Service, Peel Regional Police, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) uncovered serious criminal activity and possible links to terrorism
According to police, the investigation stemmed from two violent incidents earlier this year. In May in north Toronto, the three men allegedly approached a woman — one armed with a handgun, another with a knife — and attempted to force her into a vehicle before fleeing when a passing motorist intervened. In June, a similar incident in nearby Mississauga saw the suspects chase two women while armed with a handgun, rifle, and knife, only to retreat when interrupted by a bystander. Searches of the suspects’ homes turned up firearms, ammunition, and high-capacity magazines, as well as evidence suggesting hate motivation.
Police have laid a total of 79 charges against the trio, including conspiracy to commit kidnapping, hostage taking, weapons offenses, and hate-motivated crimes. A court-imposed gag order has limited the release of additional details. One of the suspects, Khan, also faces terrorism-related charges tied to alleged support for ISIS.
Authorities emphasized the importance of the arrests in preventing a potential escalation of extremist violence targeting vulnerable communities in the Greater Toronto Area