A 20-year-old man has been released from custody, while a youth is facing terrorism-related charges following a major investigation that involved several Canadian security agencies, police forces, and the FBI.
The RCMP headed the national security investigation, which led to the arrests of the two men, who police are describing as friends.
The 20-year-old man is identified as Hassam Eddin Alzahabi, a Syrian refugee living in Kingston.
Amin Alzahabi, his father, said on Friday that his son was home sleeping after being released from custody.
Police say the younger suspect — who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice act — has been charged with knowingly facilitating a terrorist activity and counselling a person to use an explosive or other lethal device in a public place with the intent to cause death or serious bodily harm.
RCMP Supt. Peter Lambertucci said that the police force received credible information from the FBI in December 2018 regarding a planned attack.
He said specific target or timeline has not been identified.
In a statement, the FBI commented on their involvement in the investigation.
"As long-standing law enforcement partners, the FBI and the RCMP routinely work together and share information on matters of national security to keep our citizens safe."
As part of the investigation, Lambertucci said a low-altitude surveillance plane, which was spotted multiple times by Kingston residents in recent weeks, was deployed.
"The aerial support of the plane allows us surveillance capabilities from the air to ensure that we are able to maintain public safety and mitigate risk surrounding certain addresses, certain areas of concern," he said.
The RCMP co-operated with the FBI, Kingston police, Ontario Provincial Police, the Canada Border Services Agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, during the investigation.
A bomb was never actually planted, but police said that a potentially explosive substance was found during the search.
It was taken to a secure area and blown up, no further details were provided.
With files from CTV News.