A man once convicted of terrorism offences in the United States and linked to al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden has been arrested in Montreal after allegedly threatening to kill “a large number of people,” according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Mohammed Abdullah Warsame, 51, is facing a charge of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, following an incident on May 26 at the Old Brewery Mission, a well-known support centre for Montreal’s homeless population.
Court documents reveal that Warsame, a Somali-born Canadian, allegedly told a staff member at the Mission that he intended to commit a large-scale attack. The Montreal Police Service (SPVM) responded to the initial report and, after assessing the gravity of the case, transferred it to the RCMP’s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET).
Warsame was formally charged and appeared before a judge at the Montreal courthouse on Thursday morning. His arrest was first reported by La Presse.
Ties to Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden
Warsame is no stranger to national security scrutiny. In 2009, he pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal court in Minneapolis to one count of conspiring to provide material support and resources to al-Qaeda. As part of a plea agreement, several other terrorism-related charges were dropped.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Warsame provided various forms of assistance to the terrorist organization between 2000 and 2003, including cash and personal involvement at training camps. He travelled to Afghanistan in early 2000 and underwent militant training at two al-Qaeda camps, including the notorious al-Faruq camp, where he reportedly met Osama bin Laden in person.
“Warsame subsequently worked at an al-Qaeda guesthouse and clinic,” said a DOJ statement from the time of his conviction. Officials said he was trained in weapons, including AK-47 rifles, and described bin Laden as “very inspirational.”
After returning to Canada via Pakistan in March 2001, he kept in contact with multiple al-Qaeda operatives he had met during his training. Between 2002 and 2003, while living in Minneapolis, he continued communicating with these contacts, even sending one of his former commanders $2,000 CAD.
Deportation and Return to Canada
Warsame was sentenced to nearly eight years in U.S. federal prison but served just over a year, receiving credit for more than five years already spent in pre-trial custody. Upon completion of his sentence, he was deported to Canada by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on October 8, 2010.
Since then, little has been publicly reported about his activities—until now.
The RCMP has not released further details about the nature or credibility of the alleged threat in Montreal. However, the charge of uttering threats is being taken seriously due to Warsame’s background and the potential risk to public safety.
Ongoing Investigation
The case remains under investigation by national security authorities. It is unclear whether additional charges will be laid or if federal prosecutors will seek to detain Warsame further pending trial.
The RCMP is asking anyone with information related to this case or similar threats to contact their national security tip line.
