Via Rail terror suspect said 'we are being watched,' trial hears

TORONTO — An undercover FBI officer has told the trial of two men accused of plotting to derail a train travelling between Canada and the U.S. that one of them warned him at their first meeting that they were being watched.

Chiheb Esseghaier and Raed Jaser both face multiple terror-related charges in the alleged Via Rail plot, which targeted a train between New York and Toronto.

The undercover officer — who is testifying at their trial — befriended Esseghaier first and then months later, travelled to Toronto with him to be introduced to Jaser.

At their first meeting, the officer says Jaser told him and Esseghaier that they were being watched and that the government knew who they were and where they were at all times.

The undercover officer also says Jaser told him "Islam is not rational" and said "we may be viewed as too extreme, too radical...the thing is we are."

Not-guilty pleas have been entered for both Jaser and Esseghaier.

They were arrested in April 2013.