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"It's about allowing the public to have faith and confidence in the administration of justice."

During a hearing before Ontario Superior Court Justice Bruce Durno, held separate from the ongoing bail hearings, Wong said the blanket ban was imposed based on the fact that the 17 are jointly accused.

Only one of the accused requested the ban while the remaining suspects have not had an opportunity to oppose it, he said.

If the current ban were to be set aside, Wong said individual accused would have the opportunity to oppose a ban if the Crown requested one or discuss what evidence should be kept under wraps.

Twelve men and five youth - the latter who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act - were arrested June 2 and charged with participating in a terrorist group and other terrorist-related offences.

Seven of the suspects face an additional charge of attempting to acquire three times the amount of explosives responsible for the devastating Oklahoma City bombing, and plotting to bomb several targets in Ontario.

At a court appearance in June, a lawyer for one of the accused disclosed additional details outside the court about the allegations, including that the group had at one point contemplated storming the Parliament buildings in Ottawa and taking MPs hostage.

One of the accused allegedly talked about beheading Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

The first two terror suspects to apply for bail, two youths, were denied.

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