Doctor who appeared on Canadian Idol charged with terrorism offences

A TERROR suspect who appeared on the TV show Canadian Idol appeared in an Ottawa court yesterday.

Dr Khurram Syed Sher, 28, has been charged with conspiracy to facilitate terrorist activity. Canadian police say they seized 50 circuit boards intended for use in remotely detonated bombs. Two other men were charged in the case this week.

Sher appeared on the singing competition reality show in 2008 singing a comical version of Avril Lavigne's Complicated, complete with dance moves that included a moonwalk.

The bearded father of three, a pathologist in Ontario, appeared nervous during his court appearance yesterday, where he was ordered to return next month.

Police say they moved in on the Canadian men to prevent them from sending money to terror groups in Afghanistan, following a nearly year-long investigation. It was the country's biggest anti-terror sweep since a plan by the "Toronto 18" conspirators to blow up Canadian landmarks in 2006.

The lead investigator said police made the arrests this week because they believed some form of action was imminent.

"This group posed a real and serious threat to the national capital region and Canada's national security," Serge Therriault, chief investigator for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, told reporters. "Our criminal investigation and arrests prevented the assembly of any bombs and the terrorist attack or attacks from being carried out."