Toronto 18 ringleader no longer shows signs of extremism, granted full parole: board

The decision, which includes several redactions, says Amara now plans to live in his own home and continue to structure his time around his full-time job, attending a mosque, seeing his family and “appropriate leisure activities.”

He is barred from communicating with anyone involved in criminal activity, including any of the others arrested in the June 2006 anti-terrorist raids, or come into contact with anyone with extremist ideologies, except in his work as a consultant with a specialized program.

He must also continue to participate in counselling and be subject to financial monitoring as well as restrictions on his phone and internet use.

The board’s decision comes two decades after the dismantling of the homegrown plot that shocked the country and shifted public discourse around terrorism.

Amara and an accomplice recruited people for a group based on jihadist ideologies, planning to carry out terrorist acts to demand the withdrawal of Canadian troops from Afghanistan.

The group eventually splintered in two, with Amara taking the helm of a plot focused on building truck bombs targeting the Canadian Security Intelligence Services headquarters, the Toronto Stock Exchange building, and a military base.

He was arrested on the day bomb-making materials were delivered to a warehouse.

Amara pleaded guilty to participating in a terror group with the intention of causing an explosion or explosions that were likely to cause serious bodily harm or death, and was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 10 years. He challenged the sentence but it was upheld on appeal.

The parole board document said his “problematic and extremist ideologies and attitudes” remained during his first few years behind bars, which also included several incidents of misconduct.

His ideology “began to shift” in 2014 and he was eventually transferred to a medium-security institution in 2019, where correctional officers reported he was “respectful, polite and quiet,” the board said.

Amara was granted day parole for three months in 2022 and it was extended several times.

“During the latter part of your federal custody and for the past four years in the community, you have undertaken a process to distance yourself from extremist ideologies and others who share the same views,” the board wrote.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2026.

Paola Loriggio, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Toronto 18 ringleader no longer shows signs of extremism, granted full parole: board

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