Two face terror charges after Canada Day bombs

SURREY, British Columbia - Police in Canada arrested a man and woman and accused them of attempting to leave pressure cooker bombs at British Columbia's provincial legislature on Canada Day, when thousands of people were expected to be there.

John Stewart Nuttall and Amanda Marie Korody were inspired by Al-Qaeda ideology but were self-radicalised, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Assistant Commissioner James Malizia said on Tuesday. He called it a domestic threat without international connections.

Malizia told a news conference there was no evidence or indication to suggest a connection to the deadly Boston Marathon bombings in April, which used bombs made from pressure cookers.

RCMP Supt. Wayne Rideout said the public was never at risk, and the threat was detected early.

Nuttall and Korody were arrested on Monday, the same day that thousands attended the Canada Day celebrations at the provincial legislature in the provincial capital of Victoria. Police said the pair targeted the celebrations, but the bombs were found outside the legislature before the crowds gathered.

"This self-radicalised behaviour was intended to create maximum impact and harm to Canadian citizens at the B.C. legislature on a national holiday," Rideout said. "They took steps to educate themselves and produce explosive devices designed to cause injury and death." The pair were charged with conspiracy, facilitating a terrorist activity and making an explosive device.

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