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Active Military Members Charged in Quebec Militia Plot

They remain in custody on terrorism, weapons-possession charges ahead of a July 14 bail hearing.

A cache of firearms seized by police officers during searches in January 2024.
Numerous firearms, depicted here, were seized by police officers during searches in January 2024 as part of an investigation into an alleged terror plot, according to Canadian authorities.
A photo provided by RCMP shows individuals standing in a large open area wearing military gear and holding what appear to be firearms.
A photo from Raphaël Lagacé's Facebook profile posted 2021. It included a caption protesting the Liberals' gun control legislation. He is now charged with knowingly facilitating a terrorist activity.

Overview

  • The RCMP’s Quebec INSET squad arrested four men, including two serving Canadian Armed Forces corporals, on July 8–9 on facilitating-terrorist-activity and weapons-possession charges.
  • Investigators allege the group plotted to form an anti-government militia to forcibly seize land near Quebec City and took part in military-style training in Quebec and Ontario.
  • January 2024 searches in the Quebec City area yielded 16 explosive devices, 83 firearms, nearly 130 magazines, 11,000 rounds of ammunition and tactical gear—the largest cache ever seized in a Canadian terrorism probe.
  • Accused Marc-Aurèle Chabot, Simon Angers-Audet, Raphaël Lagacé and Matthew Forbes appeared virtually July 9 and are scheduled to return to court for bail hearings on July 14.
  • The Department of National Defence confirms full cooperation with the RCMP investigation as authorities heighten scrutiny of extremist sympathies within military ranks.