No decision on bail for one of 4 people charged with conspiracy to commit murder

Justice Vaughan Hartigan of Court of Queen’s Bench set the matter over to Wednesday and said he hoped to have a decision at that time.

Thirteen people were charged after RCMP found a cache of 13 long guns, handguns, body armour, large amounts of ammunition and high-capacity magazines in three trailers.

Two tactical vests seized had badges on them, which the Canadian Anti-Hate Network said have links to troubling movements.

One vest had a “Diagolon” patch on it, a white diagonal line across a black rectangle, that the network says is linked to an often conspiratorial and antisemitic group.

RCMP also said a semi-truck and farm tractor had attempted to ram a police cruiser.

Police said the threat was “very serious” and the group was willing to use force if the blockade was disrupted.

“The dangerous criminal activity occurring away from the TV cameras and social media posts was real and organized,” RCMP Deputy Commissioner Curtis Zablocki, commanding officer of Alberta RCMP, said after the arrests.

“It could have been deadly for citizens, protesters and officers.”

The blockade, which ended at Coutts on Feb. 16, was one of several demonstrations in Canadian cities and border points that stalled trade, stranded travellers and disrupted lives of area residents, particularly in Ottawa.

Protesters had been restricting access to the busy crossing near Coutts since Jan. 29 to rally against COVID-19 vaccine mandates for truckers and broader pandemic public health restrictions.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 1, 2022

by Canadian Press

No decision on bail for one of 4 people charged with conspiracy to commit murder

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