OTTAWA, March 31: An Ottawa-based Canadian Muslim has been arrested with charges of his possible links with a terrorist group, police said here Tuesday. Mohammad Momim Khawaja, 29, was picked up from his workplace and charged with "participating in or contributing to the activities of a terrorist group and facilitating terrorist activity," police said.

The charges fall under Canada's anti-terrorism law. Police also raided the Orleans residence of Momin Khawaja who works at the Department of Foreign Affairs. Khawaja appeared in a court on Tuesday morning and was remanded until Friday. A publication ban was placed on the proceedings.

Police did not give Khwaja's ethnic background saying investigations are being made to ascertain whether Ottawa man is linked to the arrests of eight men in London on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Auditor General Sheila Fraser has said that Ottawa failed to properly act on the grave security lessons of Sept 11, 2001, resulting in gaps that leave Canada vulnerable to a terrorist attack.