Muslim businessman becomes 'terror suspect' after he texts staff he's going to 'blow away' the competition

Moroccan-born Saad Allami was arrested for texting co-workers he was going to 'blow away' the competition

A Moroccan-born Canadian businessman says he became a terror suspect because of a text message he sent to sales staffers saying he was going to ‘blow away’ the competition.

According to a religious association, Saad Allami, who is Muslim, sent the message last month and was detained for more than a day while police searched his Quebec home.

He filed a lawsuit against the Quebec provincial police force and seeks $100,000 in damages.

Mr Allami claims he was simply trying to give his co-workers a pep talk before an upcoming New York City trade show.

Just business: The telecommunications businessman said he was just texting his sales staff an encouraging message before a trade show in New York

He works as a sales manager for a telecommunications firm, according to the Canadian Press, and was sending the message to his staff to encourage them.

Mr Allami alleges that he was arrested with no prior warning and detained for more than a day while Quebec authorities searched his house.

OnIslam.com, citing the court filing, says that police entered Mr Allami’s home telling his wife that she was married to a terrorist.

‘The treatment of the plaintiff and his wife was cavalier, illegal, aggressive, accusatory, and in violation of their most fundamental rights,’ the filing said.



Indignity: Court papers allege that Quebec police stormed into Mr Allami's home and told his wife that she was married to a terrorist

Additionally, he was never formally charged with any crime, AFP reported.

Some of his colleagues told the Canadian Press that they were held at the Canada-U.S. border and were questioned because of their ties to Mr Allami.

According to OnIslam.com, Muslims make up around 1.9 per cent of the country’s 32.8million population.

Under current law, the website reports, police were allowed to arrest and detain suspects and hold them for three days without charging them.

The case will go to court on March 5.

Also detained: Leigh-Van Bryan (right) and Emily Banting (left) were refused entry to the USA after Leigh tweeted that he was going to 'destroy' America

Last month, two British friends were detained in a Los Angeles airport after the Department of Homeland Security misinterpreted several statements on Twitter.



Leigh Van Bryan, 26, and Emily Banting, 24, reportedly spent 12 hours in custody as they were questioned.

The tweet in question read: ‘Free this week, for quick gossip/prep before I go and destroy America.’