Second person arrested in Niagara Falls IED investigation

Niagara police have arrested a second person Saturday connected to the finding of explosives in a Niagara Falls home earlier this month.

Officers responded to reports of suspicious activity on Sept. 4, shortly after 12:30 p.m. at a home on Beaver Glen and Brookside Drive. The neighbourhood was temporarily evacuated after officers learned of the possible presence of an explosive device in the home.

The NRPS Explosive Disposal Unit (EDU) was called to the scene, where search officers had located multiple devices of a “concerning nature.”

EDU officers safely removed the devices and examined them before determining them to be improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in varying stages of completeness.

Detectives arrested 21-year-old Taha Sleiman following the execution of a search warrant at the home on Sept. 5. Sleiman was charged with offences involved with making and controlling an explosive device.

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Investigators say they executed a search warrant to a home in the area of Beaver Glen Drive Saturday while a simultaneous warrant was executed at a home of St. Clair Street and Paxton Drive in Chatham, Ont.

As a result of the search warrants, officers arrested 26-year-old Malek Sleiman and charged him with offences involving the unlawful making and possessing explosives and for having prohibited devices.

Malek Sleiman was held in custody pending a bail hearing held on Sunday.

Anyone with information involved with the investigation is asked to contact police.

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