Toronto 18 terror attack plotter denied full parole; still 'an undue risk' despite progress
'It was the opinion of the board that the seriousness of your actions and their potentially devastating nature called for caution,' parole board says
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Shareef Abdelhaleem, one of the Toronto 18 terror plotters who tried to detonate large bombs in 2006, has been denied full parole despite his gregarious chat with parole board officials.
His day parole, living in a halfway house in Montreal, has been continued for six months.
“It was the opinion of the Board that the seriousness of your actions and their potentially devastating nature called for caution,” the Parole Board of Canada says in its decision, released late Wednesday afternoon.
“The Board concludes that you will present an undue risk to society and your release will not contribute to the protection of society by facilitating your reintegration into society as a law-abiding citizen on full parole.”
Abdelhaleem, 46, is serving a life sentence imposed in 2011 for commission of an offence for a terrorist group and participation in an activity of a terrorist group. He was precluded from seeking parole for 10 years.
He was one of 18 people arrested in national security raids in 2006, accused of a terrorist plot to detonate powerful truck bombs at the Toronto Stock Exchange, a Canadian military base, and Canada’s spy agency.
He was released on day parole 14 ½ months ago.
On Tuesday, he talked with two members of the Parole Board of Canada in his bid for full parole, which would allow him freedoms to carry on an almost normal life.
The parole board documented his past.
Abdelhaleem, born in Egypt, travelled widely in the Middle East during his youth and moved to Canada, becoming a Canadian citizen in 1993.
“After a few years of a hedonistic lifestyle including the use of alcohol, drugs and extravagant spending, you decided to reconnect with your faith (Islam). You attended a mosque more assiduously. You eventually met radicalized people and engaged in activities that led to the current offences,” the board’s record of decision says.
He said one of his motivations for joining the plot to detonate truck bombs outside major infrastructure was to fit in with his new friends.
The Correctional Service of Canada officials monitoring and working with him are uncertain.
“It is difficult to believe and disturbing to think that he would accept a role in a plot that had the potential to cause significant amounts of death and destruction simply as a means to gain acceptance of a group of individuals,” officials told the board.
“Several psychological risk assessments are included in your file, the most recent being from October 2020. In her report, the psychologist identifies narcissistic and obsessive-compulsive personality traits. She notes that you are vulnerable to substance abuse and have anxiety and depressive effects, but do not meet criteria for having a clear-cut problem,” the board says in its decision.
The psychologist concluded his work on remorse was incomplete.
At the hearing Tuesday, Abdelhaleem attacked the psych report as being from a psychologist who didn’t like him because he argued back after being told he had a “parasitic” relationship with his family, who send him an allowance to help support him.
Abdelhaleem called the psychologist “venal and vindictive.”
He is considered low risk to re-engage with violent extremist activities.
“Your family members support you in your social reintegration, and you maintain employment.
“However, you are still struggling with adjustments to the community and work has to be done in developing skills to reach full autonomy. More specifically, you need to work in the areas of self-esteem, sense of belonging, fear of displeasing others, and a need for approval.
“You do not demonstrate any radical thinking on any subjects, but you appear to be sensitive to injustice in the world.”
The board noted his positive progress.
“You generally did well in incarceration and since your return to the community. You have shown your capacity to respect rules as well as your special conditions and have been able to work with your caseworkers in what appears to be an open and transparent manner. There is no doubt for the Board that you have made progress up to now.”
The board lifted his restriction prohibiting him from going to Toronto without prior approval. He has had eight or nine approved weekend visits to Toronto to visit with his family while on parole without any problems or concerns.
Three others previous restrictions remain: to follow a deradicalization treatment plan, not to be in a position of responsibility or leadership in any spiritual or religious activities, and not to associate or communicate with anyone involved in crime or radicalized activity.
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