Abdullah Khadr, the oldest surviving male member of a Canadian family repeatedly accused of links to al-Qaeda, has been denied bail in Toronto while he awaits an extradition hearing.

The 24-year-old, who returned to Canada this month after being released from a Pakistani prison, is the subject of a U.S. extradition request based on allegations that he supplied weapons to al-Qaeda and conspired to kill Americans outside the United States.

Abdullah Khadr
Abdullah Khadr

In her ruling on Friday, Ontario Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy said he is a flight risk and that al-Qaeda could assist him in escaping the jurisdiction.

Khadr denies links to terrorism, although he admits he attended an al-Qaeda military camp in Afghanistan when he was 13.

His grandmother broke down in the courtroom on Thursday when she heard the allegations against him. The 66-year old woman wept as the government lawyer asked her if her grandson had bought weapons for al-Qaeda.

Khadr returned to Toronto on Dec. 7 after a year in custody in Pakistan. It was unclear who held him and why he was released.

He was arrested in Toronto on the request of American authorities on Dec. 17.

Court documents say he is wanted in Massachusetts on charges of possession of a destructive device to further a crime of violence and conspiracy to murder Americans outside the United States.

He is accused of purchasing about $20,000 US worth of mortar rounds, landmine materials, grenades and ammunition for AK-47 assault rifles for al-Qaeda militants in eastern Afghanistan.