Joint Canadian/US Effort Stops Terrorist Attack

Canadian law enforcement have stopped a "major terrorist attack" that targeted a railroad between New York City and Toronto with two arrests today.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police say the joint US/Canada operation had the plotters of the threat under surveillance for over a year and arrested two suspects in Montreal and Toronto today according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

The plot called for the bombing of a New York-to-Tornoto rail line.

CNN says the plot is not connected to the Boston Marathon bombing.

RCMP Assistant Commissioner James Malizia said the two men had "direction and guidance" from "al-Qaida elements located in Iran," though there was no reason to think the planned attacks were state-sponsored. Police said the men did not get financial support from al-Qaida, but declined to provide more details.

"It was definitely in the planning stage but not imminent," RCMP chief superintendent Jennifer Strachan said. "We are alleging that these two individuals took steps and conducted activities to initiate a terrorist attack. They watched trains and railways."

Amtrak expressed its appreciation for the investigation. In a statement posted on its Facebook page, Amtrak President & CEO Joe Boardman wrote, The Amtrak Police Department will continue to work with Canadian authorities to assist in their efforts and refers all inquiries about the investigation to the RCMP.  There was not an imminent threat to Amtrak passengers, employees or the general public."

The Associated Press contributed to this report