Three men in Quebec accused of aiding terrorism will face trial following the federal Crown prosecutor’s office direct indictment on November 7, which included new charges. This decision bypasses a preliminary inquiry requested by the defendants’ lawyers in September and moves the case to Superior Court for a potential trial in 2026. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) had previously charged four individuals, including two Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members, with involvement in an alleged anti-government scheme to seize land in the Quebec City region. Described by authorities as an act of ideologically motivated violent extremism, the plot led to charges against Marc-Aurèle Chabot, Simon Angers-Audet, and Raphaël Lagacé for facilitating terrorist activities, in addition to weapons offenses.
The trio was denied bail in August. Chabot, considered the group’s de facto leader, now faces additional charges for instructing individuals to partake in activities for a terrorist organization, which carries a possible life sentence. The federal prosecutor’s office alleges that between June 2021 and January 2024, Chabot directed Angers-Audet, Lagacé, and other associates from a group named Hide & Stalk, comprising current and former military personnel, to engage in activities benefiting a terrorist group. The three defendants also face a new charge of using or possessing property for terrorist purposes.
The men initially opted for a jury trial and requested a preliminary inquiry, but the direct indictment, a strategic move uncommonly used in cases involving terrorism or organized crime, altered the legal proceedings. This tactic enables the Crown to expedite the trial process, introduce additional charges, and effectively manage disclosure issues, safeguarding sensitive evidence and witnesses. Despite the defense’s ability to challenge the indictment’s constitutionality, such attempts are typically unsuccessful.
A fourth individual, Matthew Forbes, faces various charges related to firearm possession, prohibited devices, explosives, and controlled items, along with offenses under the Explosives Act and Defence Production Act. Forbes, who was granted bail under stringent conditions, was associated with the military alongside Chabot at Canadian Forces Base Valcartier during the arrests on July 8.