Canadian police foil plot to kill people in Halifax

A car is parked outside a home on Tiger Maple Drive in Timberlea, Nova Scotia, a Halifax suburb, where police found a deceased person Friday, Feb. 13, 2015. AP

TORONTO— Canadian police said Friday (Canadian time) they’ve foiled a plan by at least two suspects to kill people in a public place in the Halifax-area

Nova Scotia Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commanding Officer Brian Brennan said in a statement they received a tip Thursday morning and said a 19-year-old Canadian man and a 23-year-old woman from Geneva, Illinois had access to firearms and intended “to go to a public venue in the Halifax region on February 14th with a goal of opening fire to kill citizens, and then themselves.”

RCMP Sgt. Alain LeBlanc said it is not related to Islamic terrorism. Brennan also said he wouldn’t classify it as a “terrorist event.” A senior government official also said it is not terror related. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Police released no details about the motive but said they arrested three young suspects. The fourth suspect, the 19-year-old man, was found dead at a residence when police entered a home. Brennan said the female American suspect was arrested when she arrived at Halifax’s airport. “Had they been able to carry out their intentions the possibility for a large loss of life was definitely there,” Brennan said.

Brennan declined to release where they plotted to attack.

Police said the two other Nova Scotia men, ages 20 and 17, were also involved, although he said investigators are still trying to determine what their role was.

“We believe we have apprehended all known individuals in this matter and have eliminated the threat. We are not seeking any further suspects at this time in relation to this investigation,” Brennan said.

Canadian Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney applauded the work of police in Canada and Geneva, Illinois and well as border officials in a statement.