Posts Tagged ‘@G20Security’
G8/G20 Security Highlights, 24 Jun 10
Techie Arrest This (via Milnet.ca) from a Toronto Police Service news release:
On Tuesday, June 22, 2010, at approximately 2 p.m., as a result of an ongoing investigation, Toronto Police Service officers executed a search warrant at 58 Elderwood Drive, in the Bathurst and Lawrence area of Toronto. Byron Sonne, 37, of Toronto, has been arrested and charged with: 1) Intimidation of Justice System Participant by Threat 2) Intimidation of Justice System Participant by Watch and Beset 3) Mischief interfere with property 4) Attempt mischief 5) Possess explosive for unlawful purpose 6) Weapons dangerous. (….)
And just who IS Byron Sonne? The Toronto Star has pulled together some interesting information – he appears to be an IT security consultant who may not have been happy with the amount of money being spent on security for the Summit Season. CBC techie correspondent Jesse Hirsch says he heard Sonne say he “was trying to trigger alerts by buying innocuous items” as well as “monitor police & share via twitter”. One opinion, from a former employer:
None of the posts (via Twitter) made threats or suggested potential for harm. His talk is innocuous. And this all looks like a very large over-reaction from a police service that felt somewhat embarrassed that someone was publicly calling them out on their failure to encrypt their communications and poor placement of security cameras.
Here’s some of Sonne’s posts from his Twitter account over the past while:
don’t forget design flaw in most G20 fence: holes are small enough to thread big bolts in for extra leverage and grip #g20report these would be handy for scaling G20 fences; the ones I have at home would fit the smaller grid fence http://tinyurl.com/36hs6vp #g20report New videos of G20 Fence line finished uploading http://www.youtube.com/user/torontogoat these ones got me some police trouble #g20report
You be the judge. Sonne’s bail hearing reportedly continues Saturday.
Why They Won’t Denounce Violence
Globe & Mail columnist Marcus Gee nails it:
…. The fact is that activists find the violent fringe useful. Violence draws television cameras – if it bleeds, it leads – and cameras draw attention to the struggle. Activist leaders may not throw bricks themselves, but many will be quite content if others do. And when it happens, you can be sure they will blame the violence entirely on the police. To sock the copper and cry police brutality when he hits back is the oldest trick in the book. Activists are already calling the fence and the massed police a “provocation” – in other words, a green light for brick tossing ….
Sound Cannon Legal Fight Begins
A decision on whether so-called sound cannons can be legally used against G20 protesters will come Friday. An Ontario judge is hearing arguments today from two civil rights groups that want an injunction preventing their use. Lawyer Paul Cavalluzzo says Toronto residents should not be used as “guinea pigs” to see whether the sound cannons are safe. Cavalluzzo says the devices have the potential to permanently damage hearing ….
What Next – Locusts? First, there was the earthquake felt in Toronto. Now, a tornado not all that far from Huntsville:
A funnel cloud apparently touched down in Midland, Ont., tonight, damaging many town businesses including a trailer park. ‘‘If you saw the movie Twister, that’s pretty much what happened,” said Alisdair MacLean, the business manager of Midland Toyota on the town’s main thoroughfare, King Street ….
What DIDN’T Cause the Earthquake
Twitter smartass @G20Security is trying to reassure us regarding alternative theories of the earthquake that rattled Toronto and Ottawa Wednesday. His mythbusters:
Rumours are FALSE that Canada’s #G20 gift to Obama is a “tectonic plate”. No further rumours, or #fakequake, will be entertained.
Rumours are FALSE that “the quake was felt even by Scrooge, The Grinch, and the Prime Minister”
Rumours are FALSE that the “world’s most powerful vibrating dildo” is part of #G20 entertainment expense. You people are sick.
Rumours are FALSE that “Canada’s pension system is on shaky ground.”
Rumours are FALSE that it was “unstoppable rumbling of protester dissent”. This is a particularly cheesy and unimaginative rumour
Rumours are FALSE that it was a “vuvuzela attack”
Rumours are FALSE that it was “The HST impacting consumers”. This rumour is particularly esoteric and unhelpful
Rumours are FALSE that “Quebec is trying to separate”
Rumours are FALSE that a tsunami warning has been issued for G20 Lake.
I feel better already.
For more from all sides,
check out the page o’ links here.
G8/G20 Security Highlights, 23 Jun 10
“If They’re Not With Us, They’re Against Us”
George W. Bush? Joseph Stalin? Kim Jong-Il?
No, anti-globalization protesters – this, via Twitter:
CRG police, agent provocateurs squad or just infiltrators? – http://is.gd/cZzrn #g20report #g20
And who’s this evil CRG? Toronto Police’s Community Relations Group – more here at YouTube. And what do these capitalist tools do?
…. The group works under the authority of the RCMP led Integrated Security Unit and are in place to provide timely and accurate official information to citizens affected by the G20 event. Their mandate extends to reaching out to activist and protest groups in advance of the G20 Summit to facilitate lawful and peaceful protests ….
Volunteers. In Canadian streets. With information.
Scary.
We Want Freedom (But Just for Us)!
A not-so-welcoming message on one blog attributed to a group calling itself “Fire.Works.For.Prisons”
FWFP collective will not be communicating with media before, during, or after the June 27th event.
Media (video, sound recording, photos) that covers individuals without their consent will be confronted.
Individuals whose ideas are found in the intentions of this demo are welcome, representatives of media are not.
Ouch!
“Firebomb suspects seek bail before G20″
Two of the three men charged in connection with the firebombing of a Glebe Bank want bail hearings by the end of the week, soon enough that they could be released before the start of this weekend’s G20 summit in Toronto. Clad in orange jail-issue coveralls, Roger Clement, Claude Frederic Haridge and Matthew Morgan-Brown made a brief appearance by video in an Ottawa courtroom Monday. All three were arrested Friday in connection with the May 18 firebombing of a Bank Street Royal Bank branch that caused more than $500,000 in damage. An anarchist group, Fighting for Freedom Coalition-Ottawa, later took responsibility for the bombing, which was recorded in a “catch me if you can” video posted online. The group also warned that its members would be “present” at the G20 summit ….
Anti-Capitalists: Rubber Bullets = Militarization of Police
….. The ARWEN represents yet another weapon that intimidates and violates the right of the general public to exercise democratic dissent. However, police continue to employ jargon in an effort to legitimize the use of weapons developed by military forces to be used against civilians in the streets of Canadian cities. When speaking about the possible damage inflicted by ARWEN ammunition on the human body, Ontario Provincial Police Constable Mel Tourigny expressed that, “It’s realistic to accept that there very possibly could be an injury to a person being struck by this projectile, but it’s a less serious injury because it’s deemed a non-lethal [weapon].” ….
We Know Who’s the First Arrest of the Summit Season
The Integrated Security Unit confirmed it arrested Mark Corbiere, an aboriginal-rights activist from the Kitchener-Waterloo area, and charged him with one count of marijuana possession.
Mr. Corbiere was initially pursued by police after allegations a man had broken into a facility at Allan Gardens, said Sergeant Nathalie Deschênes, a spokeswoman for the ISU.
(….)
Mr. Corbiere, quoted in news reports as being a representative from M’Chigeeng First Nation, is a member of a Facebook group called Olympic Resistance Network, and has been listed on websites as leader for the network’s Ontario chapter.
Here’s his Tweet confirming his arrest:
Being detained on gerard/mutual about 7cops #g20 1:50 PM Jun 21st via txt
I Kid, I Kid…
It appears security officials have to set the record straight on a recently-set up Twitter account:
Over the last few weeks, a Twitter feed called G20Security has sent out more than 119 entertaining tweets poking fun at the preparations for the Toronto summit. The With 142 followers, the Tweeter’s bio says only “Welcome. Please have your documents ready” and links to the official G8-G20 web site run by the government.
But Tim Burrows, of the Integrated Security Unit, says that not everyone realizes that the Twitter feed is satire. “Members of the public have actually called us and said ‘How can you be saying this stuff,’” he said. The police are big fans, he said, and read the feed every day. “It’s spectacular,” said Burrows. “It’s just hilarious.” But they have asked the person or people behind the feed to add something to their bio saying that the site is satirical ….
Some tidbits from @G20Security:
and my personal fave:
Bang Bang!
Canadian police launched a hunt Tuesday for a small black car believed to be involved in shots fired in a restricted zone where G20 leaders will meet this week in downtown Toronto, police told (Agence France-Presse). Off-duty officers heard the shots ring out at 3:30 am near King and Simcoe Streets, Toronto police Constable Wendy Drummond said. “A small black vehicle was seen leaving the scene,” she said. No one was injured, and “there is no information at this point to suggest that it had anything to do with the G20,” she said. “It appears the shots were fired into the air,” she added. Shell casings were found at the scene ….
For more from all sides,
check out the page o’ links here.
