MONTREAL — A young man and woman arrested in Quebec last week are each facing four terrorism-related charges.
El Mahdi Jamali and Sabrine Djermane appeared briefly in a Montreal courtroom today as teary-eyed relatives looked on.
The two 18-year-olds pleaded not guilty and the case was put off until Friday, with a bail hearing to come at a later date.
The Crown described their arrests last Tuesday by the RCMP as a preventive measure because authorities feared they would commit a terrorism-related offence.
Prosecutor Lyne Decarie was seeking to have the couple sign peace bonds which would set out conditions and restrictions the two must agree to. She said authorization for the criminal charges came this morning, but she remained tight-lipped about the facts in the case.
The four charges are: attempting to leave Canada to commit an terrorist act abroad; possession of an explosive substance; facilitating a terrorist act; and committing an act under the direction or for the profit of a terrorist organization.