Report: Alleged terrorist plotter was seeking refugee status in Canada

October 7, 2024 TruthUSA

The Pakistani national who allegedly planned to travel to New York to murder Jews was seeking refugee status in Canada, as per an immigration consultant.

Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, who arrived in Canada in June 2023 on a student visa, was apprehended by the RCMP on Sept. 4 for supposedly intending to carry out a mass shooting targeting Jews in New York City. U.S. authorities charged him with attempting to provide support to the designated foreign terrorist organization ISIS, and the U.S. is working to have him extradited.

Fazal Qadeer, the immigration consultant who had assisted Khan, revealed that Khan was applying for refugee status based on his sexual orientation, claiming to be gay. This was reported by CBC on Oct. 7.

Although it is unclear what Khan’s refugee claim status was at the time of his arrest, Qadeer mentioned that Khan had recently undergone a lengthy interview with Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Immigration Minister Marc Miller stated in September that Khan entered Canada on a student visa.

A U.S. criminal complaint unsealed in September 2024 detailed Khan’s expressed support for ISIS and his plan to carry out a terrorist attack. He had interacted online with an undercover FBI agent, outlining his intention to target Jewish religious centers in the U.S. around the anniversary of a previous attack by Hamas against Israel on Oct. 7.

Qadeer and the IRCC did not respond to The Epoch Times’ request for comment.

Minister ‘Confident’ in Screening System

Khan’s arrest followed the apprehension of a father and son by the RCMP in Richmond Hill, Ont., who were allegedly planning a violent attack in Toronto. They face nine terrorism charges, including conspiracy to commit murder on behalf of ISIS.

Ahmed
Eldidi was allowed into Canada in 2019 and later granted citizenship, while Mostafa Eldidi received refugee status, according to IRCC documents.

Miller defended Ottawa’s immigration system before the House of Commons public safety committee in September, expressing confidence in the biometric system and screening procedures in place in Canada.

Miller informed the committee that Ahmed Eldidi’s initial visa application was rejected due to concerns about his intentions to leave after the authorized stay, but his second application was approved on the basis of a visit to Canada. No issues were found that made him inadmissible to the country.

Conservative MPs raised concerns about screening procedures and accused the Liberal government of abolishing mandatory police background checks for arrivals from certain countries, including Pakistan, in 2018.

The IRCC website currently states that individuals applying for permanent residence, citizenship, or the International Experience Canada program may require a police certificate if they have a criminal record, without specific mention of Pakistan.

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