2010-06-20
Group of suspected anti-capitalist arsonists are accused of firebombing a bank last month
Colin Freeze (Includes Correction)
Police say they seized hundreds of bullets while raiding a group of suspected anti-capitalist arsonists who are accused of firebombing an Ottawa bank.
However, they retreated from Saturday’s initial claims they had recovered “sniper”-grade ammunition – .50-calibre bullets – during Friday’s raids.
“Ottawa Police did not recover .50-caliber ammunition as stated,” the police force said in a statement Saturday afternoon.
They said they recovered “hundreds of rounds” of 7.62-millimetre bullets in boxes with “.50 caliber markings.”
The clarification made the seizure somewhat less alarming, as the latter category of round is less restricted and can be more easily acquired through legal means.
Police remain concerned that one of the three suspects accused of firebombing a bank had bullets, even though they charged him only with “careless storage” of ammunition.
The seizure is stoking police fears about what they could be up against when protesters amass during the G8/G20 summits next week.
An unprecedented security phalanx is set to guard world leaders visiting Huntsville and Toronto, at the cost of nearly $1-billion, according to federal estimates.
The three men, two of them in their 50s, were denied bail in an Ottawa courthouse Saturday morning, a day after their arrest. They were ordered held in custody until their next court appearance later this month.
They face arson and explosives charges for firebombing a Royal Bank branch in Ottawa’s Glebe neighbourhood. The May 18 attack caused an estimated $500,000 in property damage.
No rifles were recovered during the raids.
The accused are alleged members of an obscure activist group known as the Fighting For Freedom Coalition – or FFFC-Ottawa – which had also promised to protest the coming global summits.
The suspects are also accused of attacking bank machines with rocks and hammers last February. The alleged progression from hammers to a firebomb to the discovery of bullets has alarmed police.
Claude Haridge, 50, is charged with careless storage and handling of ammunition. According to a published report in the Ottawa Citizen, he is a engineer and electronics enthusiast who was already facing outstanding charges of unlawful assembly and assaulting a police officer.
His two co-accused are Roger Clement, a 58-year-old retired federal bureaucrat, and Matthew Morgan, 32. Together they face a series of arson, explosives, and mischief charges.
Police say the investigation continues and are determining whether they can lay charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The law has been used only a handful of times since Parliament passed it in 2001.
Terrorism charges can only be laid with the consent of the federal Attorney General, and police wouldn’t say whether they’ve initiated conversations to this end.
A team of more than 20 police investigated the crime. Ottawa Police were the lead agency, but Ontario Provincial Police, RCMP, and even Toronto-area forces were on hand Saturday as the charges were announced.
Defence lawyers are urging the public not to prejudge the accused in the case.
“My comment is charges have been laid. The matter is now before the courts,” said Lawrence Greenspon, an Ottawa lawyer representing one of the accused, Mr. Clement. “It’s inappropriate to start commenting about the nature of the evidence that is now before the courts.”
Police reassured the public that they are confident they will be able to meet any threat during next week’s meetings of world leaders.
Editor’s Note: This story originally reported the Ottawa Police statement that “sniper-style” ammunition had been seized. They have since corrected the statement, saying the 7.62 ammunition was stored in box with .50-caliber markings.