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Leader of Canada terror cell gets 16 years

TORONTO, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- The leader of a would-be Islamic terrorist cell in Toronto was sentenced Monday to 16 years in prison.

Fahim Ahmad, who pleaded guilty in May to participating in a terrorist group and importing weapons, got less than the 18 years to life the prosecution wanted but more than the 12 years the defense requested, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

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Judge Fletcher Dawson ruled that even though Ahmad, 26, tried to organize an al-Qaida-type cell, the so-called Toronto 18, he never got close to staging an attack.

Previous court proceedings heard that Ahmad organized two training camps in Ontario where he was recruiting people to attack targets in Toronto and Ottawa, including Parliament.

Recordings were played in court in which he can be heard urging his recruits to "cut off some heads" and "kill everybody" during their attack on Parliament.

Ahmad, in custody since 2006, will be given double credit for that time and could be eligible for parole in three and a half years.

Thirteen adults and four youths were charged in the plot. Eight have admitted guilt.

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