IF what was revealed in a Canadian court is true, smart and sexy words seem to have entered the lexicon of Al Qaeda linked terror plotters. They are using coded words like wives, chicks, pure girls, chocolates and food for firearms.

Playing intercepts between the alleged ring leader of Canada's first home-grown terror plot and his co-accused in a Brampton city court here Tuesday, the prosecution said the alleged plotters used these coded words for firearms during their conversation before the plot was unearthed in June 2006.

Known as Toronto-18, the alleged plot came to light when the police cracked the nation's first Al Qaeda terror cell by picking up 17 people in a raid in June 2006.

Another person was arrested two months later. The plotters had allegedly planned to blow up Toronto downtown buildings, storm the nation's parliament, take top leaders hostage and behead Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Of these 18 suspects, 10 are in jail and four on bail. The trial of three has been stayed. And the 18th person is now facing trial. The suspects had allegedly attended a training camp in the rural areas of Ontario in December 2005 to practise using firearms and hostage-taking.

The alleged plot was unearthed after the police arrested two men at the US border for trying to smuggle weapons and ammunition into Canada. From their jail phone conversations, the police came to know about the larger terror plot.

Photograph: Chris Jackson-Getty Images