[JURIST] A judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice [court website] Monday sentenced two men previously convicted in connection with the failed "Toronto 18" [Toronto Star backgrounder] terrorist plot. Alleged plot leader Zakaria Amara was sentenced to life in prison, while Saad Gaya [JURIST commentary] was sentenced to a 12-year prison term. Amara and Gaya were two of 18 men arrested in 2006 in connection with a plan to destroy the Toronto Stock Exchange, an Ontario military base and offices of the Canadian spy agency.

Alleged co-conspirator Shareef Abdelhaleem [JURIST report] meanwhile pleaded not guilty to terrorism charges Monday. Abdelhaleem was the first adult to be tried among the "Toronto 18" originally arrested and charged under Section 83 [Canadian DOJ backgrounder] of the Anti-Terrorism Act [text], Canada's post-9/11 legislation. Five more members of the group face trial in March.