Explosive material dug from yard
Police bomb unit finds suspected explosives at ex-home of ‘G20 geek’
Police have removed what they say is explosive material from the backyard of the former Forest Hill home of Byron Sonne, the so-called “G20 geek,” nearly two years after his arrest for allegedly possessing explosives.
Closing arguments in Sonne’s trial ended Monday and it is unclear what effect, if any, this new evidence will have in the case, or if the Crown can lay new charges.
Toronto police, including members of the Explosive Disposal Unit, firefighters and ambulance were called early Wednesday to a Forest Hill home near Bathurst St. and Eglinton Ave. W., the house Sonne once shared with his now estranged wife. She still lives there, according to neighbours.
Toronto police investigator Tam Bui said investigators went to the home to follow up on evidence that came out in Sonne’s trial.
The trial heard that during an online chat May 29, 2010, Sonne talked about a “storage magazine’’ buried in the shady part of the backyard of the home, “sealed and hidden’’ and containing potassium chlorate.
Potassium chlorate can be used to make both explosives and propellants for rockets, his trial heard. The trial also heard that Sonne had an interest in rocket building, though the Crown argues that was just Sonne’s cover for making dangerous explosives. On Wednesday, an electronic robot was used to remove the materi- al found in the sealed container in the backyard. The material was dug up, a police source confirmed. The material was placed in a specially designed container called a hopper and taken by police to a secure location at the Leslie Street Spit, where it is to be detonated Thursday morning.
Apost-blast analysis of the materials will then be conducted. Bui admitted the seizure “might appear 11th hour,” but said the information was disclosed late in the trial.
Sonne, arrested before the G20 Summit in 2010, faces four counts of possession of explosive devices and one count of counselling others to commit an indictable offence.
When police searched the home on Elderwood Dr. in 2010, they discovered an amateur laboratory and workshop in the basement and various materials in marked jars, including chemical fertilizers and potential rocket fuel ingredients.
Sonne admitted to having materials that could be made into an explosive, but said he hadn’t combined them and hadn’t intended to.
He and his wife separated after she was held in custody for about two days. He was held in jail for nearly a year. The two were arrested in June 2010.
When reached by the Star, Sonne said he would not comment on the materials found in his former backyard.
A verdict in the Sonne case is expected April 23.