Copyright (c) 1997 - Ingrid A. Rimland
"(Police marked) certain contents of the box with an ultra-violet marking pen, namely the inside of the envelopes containing the index cards to which razor blades have been attached, in order to be able to identify these envelopes should any be mailed to any persons.
(Police) installed a covert video surveillance camera which allowed the viewing of locker # 5525 and surrounding area to be monitored and video recorded." (...)
On March 30, 1996 at approximately 0956 hours, a male known to me as Darren Todd THURSTON gained access to locker # 5525 by using a key. He arrived carrying what appeared to be a larger sealed envelope.
THURSTON removed the brown file box inside the locker and placed it on the floor in front of the locker. He began examining the contents. He placed the larger sealed envelope beside the file box.
THURSTON at one point held up a white envelope to the light to observe the contents. It is my belief that this is the envelope containing the nine volt battery connectors. He lowered the envelope out of sight of the camera.
THURSTON examined the contents for approximately three minutes before replacing the lid on the file box and returning the box to the locker and locking it back up with the padlock.
THURSTON began wiping the padlock with the sleeve of his coat to remove any fingerprints.
THURSTON had placed the envelope he arrived with into the file box prior to closing the file box up. He also removed an envelope from the box as well as what appeared to be the nylon wallet containing pieces known to have contained pieces of identification in different names. He appeared to put the wallet in his right coat pocket.
THURSTON examined the contents of the envelope he removed from the file box which appeared to be the plastic bag containing the gelatinous substance. He replaced the plastic bag into the envelope. He appeared to place this under his left arm or put it in his left coat pocket.
THURSTON started to walk down the moveable stairs to depart but then stepped back in front of the locker. He disappeared from sight, then re-appeared with what I believe was the gold coloured piece of moulding. THURSTON inserted this moulding into the crevice between the door and the frame, then also wiped his fingerprints from the moulding. THURSTON then left the area.
It is my belief that THURSTON and his associates are responsible for the razor blade campaign initiated against the Guide Outfitters in January of 1996 in which the "Justice Department" claimed responsibility. It is also my belief that THURSTON and his associates are responsible for the recent razor blade campaign initiated against the fur retail outlets across Canada in March of 1996 in which the "JUSTICE DEPARTMENT" claimed responsibility.
It is my belief that THURSTON and his criminal associates are continually planning campaigns in support of their various causes which involve both criminal and legitimate activity. I believe that their criminal activity is escalating which may involve the sending of explosive devices. The threatening communiqués from the JUSTICE DEPARTMENT in March of 1996 state "...you will start recieving (sic) explosive devices which WILL kill you".
Three additional points need to be made in this ZGram: First, the anarchists'
activities were hardly a secret to the public and to the police, even before
surveillance began, as evidenced from a radio interview both Thurston and
Barbarash did.
Second, these thugs were in contact with underground cells overseas.
Third, the extent of the telephone, fax and e-mail surveillance by the RCMP
of the suspected terrorists in this police effort was staggering!
First as to the radio interview, as taken from the Search Warrant. A radio
station, CFRO in Vancouver, interviewed Thurston and Barbarash on November
13, 1995. The following comments were made during the course of the interview,
of which the police obtained a tape:
"Both BARBARASH and THURSTON openly admitted to being involved with the Animal Liberation Front ("ALF") and to being associated to the Earth First movement.
BARBARASH explained that the "philosophy" behind the ALF movement is one of "direct action". He stated that time is the main factor involving the animal rights movement and the usual petitions and lobbying tactics are too time consuming. He stated that "taking animals from the laboratories immediately saves lives by destroying animal abusers' property". He further stated that "causing financial loss to animal abusers, usually through the damage and destruction of property" is an example of the "direct action".
BARBARASH stated that "it is a non-violent campaign activists taking precautions not to harm any persons or animal because of ALF actions are against the law, activists work anonymously either in groups or individually and do not have an essential contact address or any centralized organization or co-ordination."
BARBARASH stated that direct action "produces results immediately".
Both THURSTON and BARBARASH openly admitted that they have been involved in criminal activity for their cause and have both gone to prison as a result.
THURSTON described the preparation that should be done prior to doing a "raid" on a facility, specifically a laboratory. He said that "there's this ah you know general surveillance of the area. . . there's many nights were taken you know basically lying in the bushes and watching the building and watching the security guards and seeing when the rounds were and seeing who works there and the times and schedules and going inside the building to you know, check it out before we do anything and you know all is pretty common stuff for any type of direct action."
BARBARASH described how to live "underground" avoiding prosecution as he did for approximately two years before being arrested in the United States. When asked about "suggestions" he would give to a person who is contemplating "direct action for animals say regarding phone use, communications, tools and stuff like that the practical things". His response was "Shut up." He further stated, "Don't talk to anyone. Don't even tell anyone that you're interested in doing these kinds of things. The only people that should know are the people that you can completely trust and that you are going to be working with."
THURSTON went on to add "another couple of little things is a if you want to go out and do direct action" is the "first place the police are going to look is above ground groups. So if you want to do something it's best not to be going to every other animal rights rally in town because they're going to be taking pictures of those people that are there and, as Dave says, shut up, we don't want to hear about it, we don't, your friends don't want to hear about it and if you go to jail you should shut up, too. I sure as heck would never you know say anything to any police officer about anyone else that ever did anything".
BARBARASH commented on the British Animal Liberation Front. He stated that "So things in Britain are constantly ongoing with the police. Surveillance of activists is really intensified. . . ah. . . activists homes are bugged, activist phones are taped as they are here ah. . . but the surveillance there is getting a lot greater."
Second, the Search Warrant goes on to say:
Inside the envelope were eight (8) blank "National Union of Students" cards for eight (8) different universities throughout Great Britain. There were also eight (8) preprinted cards listing the goals of the "National Union of Students". ... The list of Universities are as follows:
University of Liverpool
University of Glasgow
University of Cardiff
University of Manchester
University of West London College
University of Birmingham
University of South Hampton
University of Sheffield
Finally, pertaining to electronic surveillance, chances are that Canada
has never seen anything like it!
Several surveillance authorizations were approved by a judge. During the
term of Authorization P.23/96, for instance, there were approximately 9,073
calls intercepted on telephone lines, both audio and facsimile:
(...) a monitor room was established at RCMP Headquarters situated at 5255 Heather Street, Vancouver for the purpose of monitoring the communications intercepted pursuant to Authorization P.23/96. RCMP personnel monitored the intercepted private communications and compiled a log of each individual conversation, which is an overview of the entire conversation. The logs were read by investigators from Vancouver NSIS and from these logs, reports were made of the content of these logs which were deemed possibly relevant to the investigation. These reports are a combination of intercepted information as well as information from other investigative techniques being utilized by NSIS investigators. I have personally read some of these logs from various intercepted conversations as well as facsimile interceptions. I also listened to selected conversations from the interceptions. A briefing was held virtually on a daily basis by Vancouver NSIS investigators and the information from the daily interceptions was presented and discussed by investigators. From all the sources of information described above, the following information was compiled:
THURSTON had been in frequent contact with persons who identified themselves as Todd Divain FERGUSON, Ajith ALUTHWATTA, and Mark McALPINE; all of whom are actively involved in the Anti-Racist Action ("ARA").
Again, why the reluctance of the RCMP to explain who these people are? This
kind of surveillance must have cost Canadian taxpayers millions of dollars!
When I was in Toronto in May of this year to offer myself as a witness in
the so-called "Human Rights Tribunal" hearings, at least Aluthwatta,
current ARA leader, was in the court room, along with a pesky female ARA
leader and several other anarchist-Marxist aficionados - ostensibly to give
"moral support" to Sabina Citron, the Simon Wiesenthal Center
staff, the people from B'nai Brith Canada, and the Toronto Mayor's Commission,
all of whom have professed a grievance against the Zundelsite.
Needless to say, I was not allowed to testify in public. So I just watched
these punks, as they surrounded and sidled up to our opponents - such as
Toronto's mayor, Barbara Hall, who was in the courtroom to show solidarity
with these Zionist groups. The hoodlums did not emit friendly vibes toward
us - hissing, taunting and shoving - in fact, their behavior was such that
both Ernst and his attorney, Doug Christie, had to complain to court house
security and the tribunal chairman himself.
ARA is THE most militant and "direct action" oriented anarchist-Marxist
group known in Canada. In 1994, they attacked, ransacked and vandalized
the homes of political opponents and assaulted people they believed to be
"fascists" in the subway, on the street etc. These hoodlums have
repeatedly staged demonstrations in front of the Zundel-Haus, the latest
on October 25, 1996, where they openly called for arson of the Zundel-Haus
- as they put it on their flyers and slogans shouted for seven hours, a
"kosher barbecue" - in full view of the Police!
None of this is reflected in the Search Warrant! The ARA is hardly mentioned
by name in this police write-up - a document that goes out of its way identifying,
analyzing and describing OTHER terrorist groups of the violent underground
Left in far-off Europe.
Is that because there is a documented Jewish connection to the ARA and its
terrorist activities?
Just asking.
Ingrid
Thought for the Day:
"If American Jews don't stand up to their own bullies, a hard wave of anti-Semitism could sweep America."
(Pat McDonnell Twair, WRMEA, Vol. XVI, p. 37)