Suspect in country 20 years

Both suspects in alleged terror plot plead not guilty

MONTREAL and TORONTO — Alleged Via railway bomb plotter Chiheb Esseghaier, bespectacled and heavily bearded, was flanked by two jail guards Tuesday during a court appearance in which he suggested he was framed.

The 30-year-old Tunisian national opted to represent himself during the brief appearance in a highly secured wing of the Montreal courthouse.

“The conclusions were made based on facts and words that are only illusions,” the Ph.D student told Quebec court judge Pierre Labelle as dozens of journalists looked on.

Esseghaier, believed to be the ringleader of a plot to blow up a passenger train between New York City and Toronto, faces six charges — three more than his co-accused, Raed Jaser of Markham, Ont.

Esseghaier is the only one charged with knowingly instructing someone to carry out terrorist activity, which he allegedly did between April 1 and Sept. 25 of last year.

At the Toronto courthouse, Jaser, 35, was remanded back to custody until May 23. He’s charged with conspiracy to interfere with transportation, conspiracy to commit murder and participating in a terrorist organization.

Unlike Jaser’s appearance earlier Tuesday, Esseghaier did not appear to have family or friends in the Montreal courtroom.

The indictment says the 30-year-old Montrealer has “no fixed address.” He was arraigned in Montreal because he was arrested in the city on Monday afternoon across the street from Central Station, a main hub for Via Rail trains.

Crown prosecutor Richard Roy told the court that an RCMP officer recognized Esseghaier, called him out by name and arrested him after the suspect responded.

He’s expected to be flown back to Toronto to face court again Wednesday.

In Toronto, Jaser, also bearded and wearing a grey traditional Islamic dress, stood with his arms folded in the prisoner’s box

He spoke his name and confirmed he was fluent in English to the Justice of the Peace.

As a number of family members left the court, they remained silent.

A man who identified himself as Jaser’s father said, “I’m here to support my son.”

His laywer said Jaser intends to fight the charges “vigorously.”

John Norris also said his client has been settled in Canada for 20 years, despite the police indicating during a press conference Monday that he was not settled here.