Ottawa's police chief says the threat of terrorism is the new reality in Canada, and he encourages residents to report any possible security threats to police.
Chief Vern White says it's easy to forget Canada is at war in Afghanistan and it's important to remain vigilant about threats at home at all times - not just when there's a terror case before the courts.
"We don't want us to allow ourselves to be lulled into a false sense of security because, ultimately, I think that will make us more insecure. We've seen many changes since 9/11," White told CTV Ottawa on Tuesday.
In addition to recent terror charges, there were two separate bomb threats in downtown Ottawa on Monday. One closed several streets for more than an hour. Both turned out to be false alarms.
White said Ottawa is vulnerable to potential terror threats because the capital is home to many important government buildings.
He added residents must be aware of the threat, and should report any suspicious behaviour to police.
Terror charges
Two Ottawa residents, Hiva Mohammad Alizadeh, 30, and Misbahuddin Ahmed, 26, were charged last week in connection with an alleged homegrown terrorism plot. Khurram Syed Sher, 28, of London, Ont., is also charged in connection with the case.
The arrests were made after two Ottawa homes were raided last week and investigators seized more than 50 electronic circuit boards. RCMP say the group was allegedly preparing to build improvised explosive devices for Canadian targets.
Another suspect, who hasn't been charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act, made a brief court appearance on unrelated charges in Ottawa on Tuesday.
Awso Peshdary is charged with two counts of domestic assault and two counts of uttering threats. His bail hearing was adjourned until Friday.
Police have not yet detailed how Peshdary may be linked to the terror probe.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Kate Eggins
