Three individuals accused of terrorism-related offenses in connection with an alleged anti-government scheme to seize land in the Quebec City area have been refused bail by Judge René de la Sablonnière at the Quebec City courthouse. The Crown opposed bail for Simon Angers-Audet, 24, Raphaël Lagacé, 25, and Marc-Aurèle Chabot, 24, who all attended the three-day bail hearing in Quebec City court.
Due to a publication ban requested by the Crown and granted by the judge, details of the evidence presented during the bail hearing cannot be disclosed. Crown prosecutor Gabriel Lapierre explained that the judge cited provisions of the Criminal Code justifying the detention of the accused, stating that their release would jeopardize the administration of justice, leading to their continued detention.
The trio is scheduled to appear in court again in September. They are part of a group of four individuals arrested in July for allegedly trying to establish an anti-government “community” north of Quebec City. The national police force also alleges that one of the accused was operating an Instagram account to recruit members.
Angers-Audet, Lagacé, and Chabot are facing charges related to facilitating a terrorist activity, as well as offenses linked to the unauthorized storage of firearms and possession of explosives and prohibited devices. A fourth accused, Matthew Forbes, 33, is facing weapons charges but was granted bail under strict conditions, including the requirement to wear a GPS tracking device. Forbes, not charged with terrorism, along with Chabot, is an active member of the Canadian Armed Forces.