'Canadian Idol' entrant faces terror charges

A man who appeared on the television show Canadian Idol appeared in court yesterday on terrorism charges.

Dr Khurram Syed Sher, 28, is charged with conspiracy to facilitate terrorist activity. Police say they seized 50 circuit boards intended for use in remotely detonated bombs. Two other men arrested appeared in court on Thursday.

Dr Sher appeared on the singing competition reality show in 2008, singing a comical version of Avril Lavigne's "Complicated".

The bearded father of three, a pathologist in Ontario, appeared nervous during his court appearance in Ottawa, where he was ordered to return on 1 September via videolink.

Police said they moved in on the Canadian men to prevent them from sending money to terror groups in Afghanistan.

They allege the men had plans and schematics to make improvised explosive devices and that one of them was trained overseas to make explosive booby traps, but did not specify which one.

"The arrests have prevented the gathering of bombs and the execution of one or many terrorist attacks," RCMP Chief Supt Serge Therriault said.

Therriault said details on the targets would be released in court.

Dr Sher reportedly started a new job on 3 August at St Thomas Elgin General Hospital in Ontario.

He spent time in Pakistan in 2006 as part of a relief effort after an earthquake. In 2007, he wrote to the Canadian government protesting the treatment of three Muslims at Kingston prison.