Vancouver, Canada - The RCMP has shut down a Facebook group out of Surrey, B.C., that supports the International Sikh Youth Federation, a banned terrorist group. The Integrated National Security Enforcement Team was tipped to the Internet page, which depicted a young person holding a prohibited firearm.
"Police located the youth, who subsequently identified a 49-year-old Surrey man, Bahadur Sandhu, as the owner of the firearm in the photos posted on Facebook," Insp. Paul Richards said in a release.
INSET investigators went to Sandhu's home on Feb. 28, and he surrendered three weapons without incident, Richards said. "Police seized two shotguns and the prohibited firearm identified in the Facebook photo. A subsequent investigation revealed that Sandhu was not permitted to own any of these firearms," he said.
Prosecutors have approved two firearms-prohibition applications requested by investigators against Sandhu and the youth, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Hearings for the prohibition applications have been set for May 4, 2009.
Facebook has taken down the ISYF page.
"The RCMP takes all threats to national security seriously, and will continue to work with our partners to ensure Canada's safety," said Richards, who heads INSET in B.C.
The ISYF was banned in Canada in June 2003 after members were convicted in several incidents related to their struggle for a separate Sikh nation, which they dubbed Khalistan.
Sandhu and nine others linked to the ISYF were charged in 1997 with mischief for breaking tables and chairs at Surrey's Guru Nanak temple on Dec. 21, 1996, in a dispute with a moderate group there.
Sandhu was eventually acquitted, but five others, including his brother Sudager, were convicted.
Richards said INSET offices are located in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal and the Lower Mainland, to "increase the capacity for the collection, sharing and analysis of intelligence among partners to protect Canada's overall security."
The specialized teams consist of RCMP, municipal and provincial police services, and security and intelligence partners.