Mounties arrest 13 ‘militant’ protesters
GUNS SEIZED
CALGARY • The Alberta RCMP arrested 13 protesters described as being part of a “criminal organization” at an illegal blockade at the Coutts border crossing in southern Alberta after finding they had access to a cache of guns, armour and ammunition.
The investigation into the group, which the RCMP said had a “willingness to use force against the police” if attempts were made to disrupt the blockade, began earlier this week as the group joined the ANTI-COVID-19 mandate protest blocking Highway 4, south of Lethbridge.
The Mounties said they executed a search warrant early Monday morning on three trailers associated with the group, seizing 13 long guns, handguns, multiple sets of body armour, a machete, a large quantity of ammunition and high capacity magazines.
Following the search, they arrested 11 people.
Two more people were arrested later Monday. Police said one was stopped on the highway while heading back to the protest site, and two weapons were seized.
The other was arrested when a northbound semi truck approached an RCMP checkstop. Police said the driver accelerated and drove toward officers, before swerving at the last minute and hitting some traffic cones on the highway.
The RCMP confirmed that a number of investigations and potential charges are open surrounding the arrests. One of the charges police are investigating is “conspiracy to commit murder,” said Supt. Roberta Mckale, based on threats directed at officers.
“It came to a point where for the safety of the members and for the safety of the public, we certainly had to act and act quickly,” said Mckale, addressing media near Coutts.
“These weapons were brought by people who had the intent (of) causing harm.”
One of the protest organizers, Marco Van Huigenbos, said after news of the arrests a decision had been reached to pull out from Coutts on Tuesday morning.
“We were infiltrated by an extreme element.… Our objective was to be here peacefully,” Van Huigenbos told the CBC. “To keep that message going, we want to peacefully leave Coutts and return to our families.”
Police said an example of the “militant mindset of a small segment of the protest” arose Sunday night around 8 p.m. when a semi and a large tractor attempted to ram a police vehicle. The officer was able to manoeuvre his vehicle out of the way, and the RCMP is now searching for the tractor driver to take him into custody. Police seized the tractor and the semi.
Chad Williamson, a lawyer working with the protesters, refused to comment on the circumstances surrounding the arrests but told Postmedia he is assessing charges against demonstrators.
“At this time, we are in the process of being retained by individual clients, appointing defence counsel,” he said.
During an unrelated press conference Monday Premier Jason Kenney said the recent enforcement action “underscores the severity of what has been happening.” He said the RCMP’S investigation into the group has been ongoing for the last week.
Opposition NDP justice critic Irfan Sabir said with the discovery of weapons at the blockade, “There can be no further debate about whether this is a peaceful assembly or not.
“The UCP government must take all necessary steps to have it cleared as quickly and as safely as possible,” said Sabir.
Kenney said cross-border traffic between Alberta and Montana has operated largely unimpeded as Alberta’s five other ports of entry have continued to operate, some with expanded hours.