MONTREAL - The suicide bomber who blew up an ancient synagogue in Tunisia in April worked with a Canadian cell of the al-Qaida terrorist network, according to a published report. Intelligence officials in Germany and France told the New York Times that Nizar Ben Muhammad Nasr Nawar, 24, is suspected of being part of a Montreal cell of al-Qaida, although his family says there were no indications he was an Islamic militant.

A spokesman for Canadian Security and Intelligence Service declined to comment on the case Monday.

The Times said that a scramble is on to expose any al-Qaida cells in Canada and Tunisia linked to Nawar before the groups disappear and plan another attack.

The newspaper quoted the unnamed intelligence sources as saying that Nawar, who died in the April 11 attack, may have worked with the same Montreal-based network that assisted Ahmed Ressam, the Algerian convicted of plotting to bomb Los Angeles Airport during millennium celebrations.

A gasoline-laden truck exploded at the Ghriba synagogue on the resort island of Djerba, killing 19 people, including 10 German tourists. Nawar was later identified using dental records and remains found inside the cab of the truck.

Agents say Nawar lived mostly in Tunisia but vanished for long periods in Canada between 2000 and last February.

A senior French intelligence official said agents are closely examining Nawar's Canadian connection.

Members of Montreal's small Tunisian community have said Nawar was not part of their social circles and did not frequent Tunisian bars or cafes.

Meanwhile, a leader in the city's Muslim community expressed concern Monday about the reports of the Montreal al-Qaida cell and the refusal of Canadian authorities to comment on the case.

Amir M. Maasoumi, president of a local cultural association, said that by refusing to confirm or deny specific media reports about terrorist activities in Canada, Canadian officials are contributing to negative stereotypes of Muslims.

"This type of practice reinforces prejudices - it's an injustice," Maasoumi said in an interview.

"I have nothing against protecting sources of information.

"But it's a democratic society and the information can be released without divulging the source, and without divulging the methods by which that information was gathered."

CSIS spokesman Phil Gibson said Monday that the service reports to government, not to the public.

The agency has said the terrorist threat in Canada is not as high as for the United States.

But the service also acknowledges that most of the world's terrorist groups, including al-Qaida, have adherents in Canada.