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An aerial view of the highway at Coutts, Alta. on Feb.1, 2022. (Photo Courtesy LethbridgeNewsNow/RCMP

Court documents: RCMP say Coutts border protesters were arming themselves for a standoff

Sep 7, 2022 | 10:54 AM

Court documents say that a faction that blocked a main Canada-U.S. border-crossing in Alberta last winter to protest COVID-19 health measures was stockpiling weapons to use against police.

The RCMP alleged in search warrant applications filed in court that anti-vaccine mandate demonstrators who, for six months, gathered at the Coutts border crossing were arming themselves for a standoff against police.

The allegations were based partly on information collected by police through wiretaps and undercover officers who infiltrated a hangout where a group of protesters met in a basement.

The documents also allege that group member Tony Olienick imported accessories for handguns despite him not having any handguns registered to his name.