A father and son have been arrested at the Canada-US border after York Regional Police found explosive materials on a property located in Richmond Hill, Ont – a suburb north of Toronto, according to Global News.
18-year-old Mahyar Mohammadiasl and 47-year-old Reza Mohammadiasl were charged with possession of an explosive device.
On Friday May 10th, York Regional Police executed a search warrant on a home located in Richmond Hill.
When questioned about the incident, Minister of Public Safety Ralph Goodale claimed the event had “no known connection to national security,” and that the local police were in charge of the investigation.
York Regional Police located “hazardous, explosive materials as well as a detonator device” on the property.
According to a news release by York Regional Police, surrounding residences were evacuated while the police searched the premises. The explosive materials were safely removed.
“Officers with the Ontario Provincial Police and the York Regional Police Explosives Detection Unit attended the residence to ensure the safe removal of the materials. The hazardous materials have been removed and neighbours who were evacuated as a precaution, have been allowed back to their residence,” read the news release.
York Regional Police confirm that they began an investigation after receiving information about a suspect who was investigated by both US Customs and the Canadian Border Services Agency.
It is unclear where the two men were heading at the time of their arrest or what they were planning on doing with the explosive material.
Police did not specify what exactly the materials were or how much was removed.
This remains an active investigation. No terrorism charges have been laid against the two men.
