Canada vigilant after terror plot

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Assistant Commissioner Wayne Rideout displays a picture of pressure cookers used by two individuals arrested while conspiring to commit an attack in Surrey, British Columbia July 2, 2013. Canadian police said on Tuesday they foiled an al Qaeda-inspired plot to detonate three pressure-cooker bombs during Monday's Canada Day holiday outside the parliament building in the Pacific coast city of Victoria, arresting a Canadian man and woman and seizing their home-made explosive devices.[Photo/Agencies]

The alleged plot, which happened when the nation marked one of its biggest holidays, demonstrates that terrorism continues to be a real threat to Canada, he said in a statement.

"The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has assured me that at no time during the course of this investigation was there an imminent risk to the safety of Canadians," he added, reaffirming the government's unwavering commitment to combating terrorism and keeping Canadians safe.

Toews, however, failed to make further comment on the plot as it is still under investigation and prosecution.

A British Columbia man and woman were arrested on Monday by the RCMP with conspiring to carry out a terrorist attack at the provincial legislature in Victoria where thousands gathered for the Canada Day celebrations.

During a brief court appearance in Surrey, B.C. Tuesday, John Stewart Nuttall at his late 30s and Amanda Marie Korody at her late 20s, both Canadian-born citizens, were accused of building explosive devices with the purpose of causing death or serious bodily injuries.

The RCMP said Tuesday that the pair was self-radicalized and the contents of the improvised explosive devices included nuts, bolts, nails, washers and other materials intended to kill or maim people.