Surrey, B.C.- Two  people from Surrey have been arrested and charged with  conspiring  to carry out a terrorist attack.

RCMP allege the two  accused  had taken steps to build explosive devices  and place them at the  B.C. Legislature  in Victoria where crowds were expected to gather for Canada Day celebrations.

( at right, three pressure cookers were  meant to become Improvised Explosive devices, similar to the one used  at the Boston Marathon – photo courtesy RCMP)

Charges against these individuals include conspiring to place an explosive in or against a place of public use, a government or public facility, with the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury, for the benefit of, at the direction or in association with a terrorist group. They have been charged under Sections 431.2(2), 83.19 and 81(1)(d) of the Criminal Code of Canada.

"I want to reassure our citizens that at all times during the investigation, our primary focus was the safety and protection of the public" says  Assistant Commissioner James Malizia, responsible for Federal Policing Operations.  "While the RCMP believes this threat was real, at no time was the security of the public at risk. These arrests are another example of the effectiveness of our Integrated National Security Enforcement Team who worked tenaciously to prevent this plan from being carried out.

The RCMP investigation, named Project SOUVENIR, was coordinated by the RCMP-led Integrated National Security Enforcement Teams (INSET) in British Columbia and initiated with information from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.

"It is very important that Canadians remain vigilant" adds Assistant Commissioner Malizia. "We encourage the active engagement of all our citizens in protecting Canada’s national security as it is a shared responsibility."

The two charged are John Stuart Nuttall and Amanda Korody.  The two were to appear in court today. 

Below left, contents for an improvised  explosive device, including  nuts and washers, while at right, rusty nails inside an IED.  All photos courtesy RCMP

*Editors note:

Because this matter is now before the courts,  there will be no comments allowed