A fugitive and failed refugee with alleged ties to an Algerian terrorist group has been arrested in Montreal for a second time after evading border authorities.
Mohamed Ratni was first arrested in 2012 and then conditionally released by the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) after being detained for 19 months. Shortly after his release Ratni disappeared once again and evaded authorities.
Prior to his latest arrest, Ratni was on a “Wanted” list on the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) website.
CBSA officials failed to deport Ratni after his first arrest despite the fact that he was deemed a flight risk by the IRB. The CBSA was unable to get travel documents from the Algerian government which were required for his deportation.
In Ratni’s failed refugee claim he admitted to working with the al-Qaeda affiliated Armed Islamic Group (GIA) in Algeria.
Despite his failed application, Ratni lived freely in Montreal for five years after the ruling. While in Montreal, Ratni was convicted of several crimes including a charge for fraud under $5,000 prompting the CBSA to begin deportation proceedings.
The IRB determined that he was “devoid of sincerity and honesty” and also “tried to downplay his role” in the terror group. In their ruling the IRB determined that he was complicit in crimes against humanity for his affiliation with the group.
The GIA is listed as a terrorist entity by Public Safety Canada. On the department’s website it states that the group’s “primary objective is to overthrow the Algerian government and replace it with an Islamic state.”
“The claimant has attempted to minimize his role within the Armed Islamic Group in order to protect himself,” wrote the ruling.
