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The dark and rapid descent into Islamist extremism for three young Ottawa men who plotted to leave the country to fight for the Islamic State ended on Friday with the homegrown terrorists pleading guilty to crimes inspired by an organization the sentencing judge likened to the devil.

Ontario Superior Court Justice Colin McKinnon, in handing down sentences for the surprise guilty pleas, said homegrown terrorism is a virulent form of cancer that needs to be aggressively eradicated, and that the terrorist plans of the three men were a betrayal of the teachings of Islam.

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“It is now hoped that they learn the error of their ways and the utter futility of pursuing jihadist terrorist causes, which constitutes a one-way street to inevitable disaster,” the judge told court. McKinnon said pledging allegiance to the Islamic State is like pledging allegiance to the devil.

Ashton Larmond, the 25-year-old “director” of Ottawa’s cluster network, seemed the most confident in the prisoner’s box, standing up straight away, saying he takes full responsibility, that he’ll learn from his mistakes and that it will never happen again.