Canadian Armed Forces Members Charged in Anti-Government Militia Plot

Two members of Canada's armed forces have been charged with alleged involvement in a plot to form an anti-government militia and forcibly take land in Quebec. According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the three accused - Marc-Aurèle Chabot, 24, Raphaël Lagacé, 25, and Simon Angers-Audet, 24 - planned to create a militia to take land in Quebec, and conducted military-style training exercises, as well as shooting and survival training. The group allegedly used prohibited guns, high-capacity magazines, and tactical equipment such as grenades and night-vision goggles.

Key Takeaways:

• Three members of the Canadian armed forces - Marc-Aurèle Chabot, Raphaël Lagacé, and Simon Angers-Audet - have been charged with facilitating terrorist activity and additional charges relating to the alleged illegal storage of guns and possession of explosives and prohibited devices.
• The group planned to create an anti-government militia to take land in Quebec and conducted military-style training exercises, including shooting, ambush, survival, and navigation.
• The group allegedly used a variety of guns, including some prohibited, as well as high-capity magazines and tactical equipment such as grenades and night-vision goggles.
• Court documents state that the training took place between June 2021 and January 2024 in Quebec City, Montreal, Rolphton, and Petawawa, Ontario.
• A fourth suspect, Matthew Forbes, 33, of Pont-Rouge, Quebec, was charged with possessing guns, prohibited devices, and explosives, among other offences.
• Investigations into the plot began in March 2023, with the RCMP conducting searches in January 2024 that led to the seizure of 16 explosive devices, 11,000 rounds of ammunition, and other weapons in Quebec City.

Statistics:

• 3 members of the Canadian armed forces were charged with facilitating terrorist activity
• 4 suspects were arrested in total, with 3 accused of planning to create an anti-government militia and 1 accused of possessing guns and prohibited devices
• Training exercises took place between June 2021 and January 2024
• 16 explosive devices were seized in Quebec City
• 11,000 rounds of ammunition were seized in Quebec City
• Investigations began in March 2023

Sources:

• Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Department of National Defence
• The RCMP distributed a photo from a private Instagram account that showed seven people in military-style uniforms brandishing firearms
• Reuters
• Canada's CBC News