EDMOTNON

An Edmonton woman is charged with a terrorism hoax.

Canadian Forces in Toronto got an e-mail threat stating an Edmonton man was going to commit an act of terror on April 17.

The Alberta RCMP Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) followed up and found it was nothing but a hoax.

K-Division RCMP spokesperson in Edmonton Josee Valiquette said authorities take all threats to national security very seriously.

“Investigating potential threats consume significant resources and time for the police domestic and international in all of our agencies and partners that play a role in public safety,” Valiquette said.

She said she can’t reveal the nature of the threat or the motive.

“Details about the nature, or what was threatened will be disclosed during the court proceedings,” Valiquette said.

Charges for terrorism hoaxes carries a maximum five years imprisonment.

“These hoaxes are far from harmless pranks,” she said. “They cause real public apprehension, which results in unnecessary and very costly response by law enforcement.”

Hanna Bedhiafi, 23, of Edmonton is charged with committing a hoax regarding terrorist activity. She was released on a promise to appear and is expected in Edmonton Provincial Court on May 9.

Anyone with information on criminal threats to national security should call the RCMP National Security Information Network at 1-800-420-5805.

RCMP also investigated an airplane threat on Jan. 22, which turned out to be a hoax. Mounties got an anonymous phone call of a terrorist attack planned by a man from Edmonton. The hoax came in from two middle-aged women in Ontario. Darlton Graham, 52, of London and Marjorie Chamberlain, 54, of Brantford were charged in that hoax.

catherine.griwkowsky@sunmedia.ca

@SunGriwkowskyC