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A combination of courtroom sketches. From left: Misbahuddin Ahmed, Hiva Mohammad Alizadeh, both of Ottawa; and Khurram Syed Sher, of London, Ont.

In a surprise move, an Ottawa man has pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing explosives with an intent to injure.

The plea means Hiva Mohammad Alizadeh, 34, will not face trial in February as previously expected.

Alizadeh, who once studied electrical engineering technology in Winnipeg, was arrested in August 2010 as part of an alleged extremist conspiracy.

Police seized terrorist literature, videos and manuals along with dozens of electronic circuit boards — gadgets the Crown says were designed to detonate homemade bombs remotely.

As part of a deal with the Crown, Alizadeh will be sentenced to 24 years in prison.

Alizadeh told Ontario Superior Court Justice Colin McKinnon that his time in custody to date had opened his eyes to the reality of his actions.

Alizadeh would be burdened with an utterly deplorable stigma, McKinnon noted.

"You are now a convicted terrorist," he said. "You have betrayed the trust of your government and your fellow citizens."

After accounting for time served — credited as six years — Alizadeh faces a maximum of 18 more years behind bars, and he has agreed not to apply for parole for at least nine years.

Two other terrorism-related charges against Alizadeh have been dropped.

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