Ontario wants to look at increased train security following terror plot arrests

TORONTO – The Ontario government wants to talk with its federal counterparts about beefing up security on passenger trains following the arrest of two men accused of planning to attack a Via Rail train.

Attorney general John Gerretsen says until recently, airport security received the lions share of attention, but he thinks it may be time to change that.

Gerretsen wants federal and provincial security experts to look at the possibility of airport-style checks for passenger trains and other forms of public transport.

He says the goal is to make people as safe as possible when they travel, and admits checking passengers’ bags before they board trains is a possibility.

Gerretsen also says he was very pleased with the working relationships between the Ontario Provincial Police, the RCMP and U.S. law enforcement agencies including the FBI to arrest the suspected terrorists.

The two men charged in the alleged terror plot made brief court appearances in Montreal and Toronto today.

Raed Jaser, 35, from Toronto and Chiheb Esseghaier, 30, from Montreal, were arrested and charged Monday in what the RCMP said was the first known al-Qaida supported terror plot in Canada.