Quebecer Ismael Habib faces terrorism-related charge

A 28-year-old Quebec man has been chargedwithattempting to leave Canada to participate in the activitiesof a terrorist group.

IsmaelHabib made a briefcourt appearanceinMontreal on Friday morning to be formally charged.

The RCMP has also charged himwith making a false statement to obtain a passport.

• Suspected jihadist arrested in Gatineau on unrelated charges
• Warrant issued for Ismael Habib under suspicion of terrorism

Habib was initiallyarrested in Gatineau last weekand charged with criminal harassment, uttering threatsand forging documents.

A bail hearing must be held inGatineaufor those charges before a court will decide whether to grantHabibbail on the terrorism-related charges.

"We're opposing bail," Crown prosecutor Lynne Dcariesaid following Habib's court appearance. "It will be up to a judge to decide, but the Crown doesn't believe he should get bail."

He was transferred to Montrealbecause of theRCMPinvestigation.

Habib'slegal address is in the Montreal neighbourhood of Anjou, but theRCMPsaid he livesGatineau.

He willbe back in court March 14 to set adate for the Montreal bail hearing. TheGatineaubailhearing takes place on March 19.

Dcariedeclined to provide additional detailsabout the case, such as Habib's intended destination. But she didn't rule out the possibility that further charges could be laid.

"It's in constant evolution," she said of the case. "The investigation is ongoing. And all this has to be analyzedin a very short time."