A man and woman from Surrey who allegedly planned to place and detonate explosive devices at the B.C. Legislature on Canada Day with intent to kill and injure people were inspired by Al-Qaeda ideology, RCMP say.

John Stewart Nuttall, 38, and Amanda Korody, in her late 20s, were arrested July 1 in Abbotsford and now face terrorism-related charges including conspiring to place an explosive in or against a place of public use, knowingly facilitating a terrorist activity and making or having an explosive substance with intent to endanger life or cause serious damage to property.

“This self-radicalized behavior was intended to create maximum impact and harm to Canadians,” RCMP Assistant Commissioner Wayne Rideout alleged Tuesday. “They took steps to educate themselves and produce explosive devices designed to cause injury and death.”

The devices appeared to be made from pressure cookers – similar to the devices used in the Boston Marathon bombings in April that killed three people and injured more than 200. According to the RCMP, the devices were filled with rusty nails, nuts and bolts.

Rideout said the devices weren’t active and never put the public at risk.

“It is a device designed, if it was completely capable of detonating, to create harm, injury or death to individuals,” Rideout said.

RCMP said there did not appear to be a link between the alleged Canada Day bombing plot and the Boston bombings.

Assistant Comissioner James Malizia said while an investigation revealed the two appeared to be inspired by Al-Qaeda ideology, the threat was domestic and did not have any international links.

“There is no information to indicate that these individuals had the support or were acting at the direction of a terrorist group,” he said.

Rideout said the explosive devices were secured and seized on Canada Day on the outside property of the B.C. Legislature with no people nearby.

“At no time was the security of the public at risk,” said Malizia. “We detected the threat early and disrupted it.”

He urged the public to be aware and always report any suspicious behavior to authorities.

“It is very important that Canadians remain vigilant,” Malizia said. “We urge the public to bring any suspicious activities to the RCMP’s attention through our national security information network.”

The suspects

Police gathered evidence from the couple’s rental suite in the basement of a Surrey home Tuesday.

The landlords spoke exclusively with CTV and said the suspects were generally polite and intermittently attended a local mosque, but did have medication delivered to the home daily.

Records show Nuttall was convicted of weapons charges, assault and mischief charges in 2010, and robbery in 2003.

Tom Morino, Nutall’s former lawyer, said he’s floored by the new allegations, and that the couple always presented to him as pleasant, caring and compassionate.

“I was stunned to be honest with you at the seriousness of them. That's why I'm anxious to get the disclosure and meet with my clients and discuss it with them.”

Reaction from Victoria

B.C. Premier Christy Clark said she was stunned when she received the news of the imminent arrests Monday.

"I was shocked but I was deeply concerned," she said, adding "I was incredibly relieved to know that they were working alone."

Speaker of the BC Legislature Linda Reid said it was shocking that parliament, as a symbol of representative democracy, was the potential target of violence.

Clark said there would likely be a review of Legislature security, but cautioned against responding to the attacks with fear.

"We cannot let this change us. We cannot let this event change who we are and how we use our public space," she said. "This building belongs to the people of British Columbia...we will not be ruled by fear."

Clark said the suspects’ goal was not just to inflict damage, but to “rob us of our sense of security.

“They hate the values that make B.C. and Canada unique in the world,” she told reporters.

Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said the “arrests demonstrate that terrorism continues to be a threat to Canada.”

The RCMP said the charges were a result of a Mountie-led Integrated National Security Enforcement Team investigation dubbed Project Souvenir that included employees from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and Canada Border Services Agency.

Both suspects remain in police custody.

With files by CTV British Columbia’s Scott Roberts, Lisa Rossington and Ed Watson.