Toronto 18 leader sentenced to 16 years

A judge ruled today that although he was inept, Fahim Ahmad fully intended to carry out attacks against Canadians.

The 26-year-old leader of a group of aspiring terrorists had laid out plans to attack targets in Toronto and Ottawa, and even hoped he would behead the prime minister. Judge Fletcher Dawson acknowledged that Ahmad never came close to carrying out the attacks but sentenced him to 16 years for importing firearms and participating in a terrorist group. Ahmad pleaded guilty to those charges in May. Because he’s been in custody since 2006, he will get double credit for time served, meaning he could be released in eight years and will be eligible for parole in 2014. Of the other members of the Toronto 18, seven had charges against them dropped, seven pleaded guilty and four were found guilty.