GLOBAL JIHAD

'Al-Qaida-inspired' terrorists foiled in Canada

17 males arrested in Toronto preparing for 'real and serious' mayhem

Toronto terror plot foiled -- Canada FBI: Suspects may have had 'limited contact' with Georgia men.

TORONTO, Ontario (CNN) -- Canadian police said on Saturday they had halted a "real and serious" terror threat in and around Toronto.

Twelve men and five youths said to have been inspired by al Qaeda were arrested in the operation involving hundreds of officers, authorities said.

The group was "planning to commit a series of terrorist attacks against solely Canadian targets in southern Ontario," Royal Canadian Mounted Police Assistant Commissioner Mike McDonell said at a news conference.