Canadian accused of conspiring to kill U.S. soldiers in Iraq

A Canadian man accused of taking part in an attack that killed five U.S. soldiers in Iraq — and who authorities say chillingly described the work of insurgent bombers as the "harvest" of "metal and flesh" — has been arrested in Edmonton.

Faruq Khalil Muhammad 'Isa, 38, was arrested Wednesday without incident on a U.S. provisional arrest warrant. U.S. Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd said it was believed the suspect had been living in the Edmonton area.

Muhammad 'Isa is accused of "conspiring to kill Americans abroad" in connection with a bombing attack in Iraq in April 2009.

Authorities allege he is connected to a "multinational terrorist network" that has carried out numerous suicide attacks in Iraq.

The U.S. Justice Department said in a news release that it will seek the suspect's extradition to the United States to deal with the charges. He is expected to make a court appearance Thursday.

There was never any direct threat to Canadians, said RCMP Assistant Commissioner Gilles Michaud, who heads the National Security Criminal Investigations section.

The RCMP's national security unit in Edmonton conducted an "extensive investigation" after being tipped off by the FBI more than a year ago, he said.

"Basically we went full out to assist them," Michaud said.

RCMP Sgt. Patrick Webb confirmed that Muhammad 'Isa is a Canadian citizen.

Webb said the arrest took place Wednesday morning without incident in support of the FBI investigation.

"The RCMP's role was simply to arrest him and detain him until he can make court appearances to answer to extradition," said Webb.

Webb said he could not confirm how long Muhammad 'Isa had been living in Edmonton.

Authorities say he has used as aliases the names Faruk Khalil Muhammad 'Isa, Sayfildin Tahir Sharif and Tahir Sharif Sayfildin.

The official complaint that led to the charges, which was filed January 14 in New York, said "a Tunisian jihadist, whose travel to and activities in Iraq were facilitated by the terrorist network, drove a truck laden with explosives to the gate of the U.S. military's Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul, Iraq.

"The jihadist exchanged fire with Iraqi police officers and then the American convoy that was exiting the base. The truck detonated approximately 50 yards from the gate, alongside the last vehicle in the U.S. convoy, leaving a 60-foot crater in the ground."

The day after the blast — which occurred on April 10, 2009 — it is alleged that Muhammad 'Isa, who is of Iraqi origin, had a conversation with Iraq-based members of the group responsible, during which the attack was discussed.

The terror network linked to Muhammad 'Isa is also suspected of being responsible for another suicide attack on March 31, 2009, which led to the deaths of seven Iraqis.

The U.S. Justice Department, in the news release, said Muhammad 'Isa told another individual in January 2010: "There is no more pressing duty after the declaration of faith than fighting the enemy. Fighting comes before the other four pillars of faith."

In a separate conversation, in July 2010, it is alleged the suspect said "Islam came for the good of humanity. So if someone doesn't like good, we fight them, like those dog Americans."

In November 2009, it is alleged that the suspect told his mother he wanted to die a martyr. Two months later, he is said to have expressed interest in travelling to Iraq and conducting a suicide attack against U.S. forces.

He is also accused of instructing an Iraq-based family member to attack police and U.S. military personnel. The Department of Justice alleges the pair used "farming" as a code word for militant attacks "because, as he put it, jihadists 'plant metal and harvest metal and flesh."'

In addition to the March 2009 attack, the network with which the suspect is allegedly associated tried to co-ordinate a second attack that month.

The U.S. Justice Department said: "In online conversations with one of those jihadists as the jihadist was preparing to leave Tunisia, the defendant advised him not to leave a will, and to 'try to delete everything...off your computer. Don't leave one character of information or anything behind... Don't leave any trace... Do not forget to keep reading Qur'an and repeat the famous prayers on the way until you meet with God."

The other person involved in that email correspondence was arrested in April 2009 as he attempted to flee Tunisia.

With files from the National Post