Copyright (c) 1997 - Ingrid A. Rimland
On April 30, 1996, at approximately 1323 hours, THURSTON called FERGUSON and they discussed an incident believed to be a pipe bomb that exploded in Calgary prior to this date. FERGUSON made reference that he doesn't have any idea who would have done it. THURSTON asked if "what's his name" was in town making reference to George BURDI. On May 15, 1996 THURSTON advised Todd FERGUSON that some people are moving. He refers to Charles SCOTT as an example and states he has found out where Charles SCOTT is living and that he was living on the border out in Yahk, B.C. They continued a conversation at the Youth Centre that has done some work into organizing against racists.
On May 20, 1996 at approximately 1656 hours, THURSTON advised McALPINE that he has been working for the past year and one half compiling intelligence on White Supremacist members. THURSTON advised that other people from Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, and other cities are adding information to his database. It is described as containing information about a range of people from "Ernst ZUNDEL to your local bonehead"; a name utilized by THURSTON to describe skinheads. During the conversation, THURSTON appeared to look up ZUNDEL's name in his database and to recite information that he has compiled on his intelligence file. He made reference to ZUNDEL as being part of the Heritage Front, Liberty Net, C.R.T.C. and having an address at 206 Carlton Street, Toronto, Ontario. He included the information that ZUNDEL had immigrated from Germany to Canada in 1958 and still holds a German citizenship. He was a commercial artist in 1951. THURSTON made a comment that his data base is really detailed. McALPINE stated that he would like a copy of that information. THURSTON went on to explain that his database has everything including people, racist publications and organizations and any information he knows as to who belongs to those groups and affiliations. Other information provided by THURSTON included talk about SHARP. THURSTON discussed the possibility of him attending an upcoming ARA conference which is being held in Toronto, Ontario.
There were an extensive number of calls involving references to the constant use of computers and, specifically, the Internet and E-mail. THURSTON made numerous references to sending and receiving E-mail. THURSTON and his associates appear to utilize the Internet and E-mail for the majority of their communications. There was also a conversation in which FERGUSON talked about encrypting information on a disk and forwarding it to THURSTON. FERGUSON then stated he would E-mail the passcode to THURSTON once he received the disk.
THURSTON was given a lap top computer financed by BLOOM. THURSTON stated to BLOOM that he required it as he was leaving for approximately 2 months on a holiday and he would require the lap top to enable him to have constant access to the Internet. THURSTON had also purchased accessories for upgrading his lap top. He provided BLOOM's MasterCard number _____ (deleted by us to avoid misuse) to purchase these items.
(...) telephone conversations between Susan BLOOM and other Bear Watch employees (...) expressed concern about THURSTON's and BARBARASH'S criminal past. BLOOM had suggested that it may be necessary for Bear Watch to dissociate itself from THURSTON and BARBARASH.
During one conversation on August 21, 1996, between THURSTON and BARBARASH, they discussed the fact that Susan BLOOM had concerns about what might be in THURSTON's files in his file cabinet. THURSTON then made a comment to BARBARASH about how they {believed to refer to the police} if they want to, come into anyone's house and say "hey, this person's been making whatever". They could take something from your kitchen or bathroom and make something. Big deal. What are you going to do, run and hide.
On August 29, 1996, THURSTON sent a facsimile of an interview that he gave, entitled "Doing time with the Animal Liberation Front - An Interview with Darren THURSTON". In the interview, THURSTON explained how he got involved with the Animal Rights Movement, how he learned ALF Actions, his role in the attack on the University of Alberta, and how he got caught. THURSTON went on to instruct what not to do, how to protect oneself, and how to maintain security while doing direct actions.
On November 19, 1996, BARBARASH sent a facsimile message to Bear Watch proposing to update the guide outfitters information list which he claims has not been updated since April 12, 1995. BARBARASH requested a fee of $2000.00 to do this update. BARBARASH left the 604-294-0073 number as a contact number in Vancouver.
On November 25, 1996 THURSTON told an unknown male that he was fired from Bear Watch this morning because he was just a little too radical. He will keep his E-mail address, his laptop, and his cellular phone, but will have no income.
On October 24, 1996, Mark McALPINE, internet address: mmcalpin@uo.guelph.ca., wrote to Darren THURSTON, Internet address: oldman@asterix.helix.net, that he had just had a visit from two undercover RCMP officers - one from VANCOUVER "in town" for a few weeks. Officer W. L. (Leigh) RYAN (VANCOUVER) and Cpl. W. S. (Bill) JEFFERY (local) both from NSIS. He went on to say that they were interested in the mail bomb event that took place last year, including the parcel bombs received by ZUNDEL and the MACKENZIE Institute. McALPINE asked them how he got his name. They replied it was in relation to the Marineland arrest and that they were investigating "1000" or so left-wing types who may know something. He said the officers left their cards. McALPINE asked "oldman.helix.net" (THURSTON) if he had encountered RYAN before. McALPINE closed by saying the officers would probably be in town for the Anti-ZUNDEL action.
On October 24, 1996, THURSTON sent a message... He said there had been a couple of cops (RCMP from NSIS) that have investigated numerous incidents (turkey poison hoaxes, the mail bombs sent to right-wing people, and the Earth Liberation Army fire bombing). They questioned at least one activist in Vancouver last year a couple of days before Halloween. THURSTON advised McALPINE to write down an account of the morning's events as detailed as possible so that he has it if it is ever needed. THURSTON requested the information on both of the members cards and would also appreciate a photocopy of them. THURSTON closed by saying that he was forwarding the details of the encounter with the police to David BARBARASH to see if he could offer any other advice.
On October 24, 1996, BARBARASH sent a message to McALPINE regarding the visit of the RCMP investigators and instructed him to get as much information as possible and give out nothing. (...) He closed by telling McALPINE to breathe deep and to let him know any future developments.
On October 24, 1996, McALPINE sent a message thanking THURSTON for his advice and advised that he called two lawyers who had been working with him on the Marineland charges and informed them of what happened. {The Marineland charges arose out of an animal rights action at Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario on September 1. 1996 in which McALPINE participated.) (...) McALPINE said that when the Vancouver guy said he was in town for a bit, McALPINE asked if he meant Guelph, and he replied, no, Toronto.
On October 24, 1996, McALPINE sent a message to BARBARASH, thanking him for the lawyer's number. He expected to see the investigators again in Toronto at various rallies. He said the investigators that visited him were really interested in knowing if he had anything to do with ARA or knew about the demonstration at ZUNDEL's home that coming Friday. McALPINE told them he was not interested in answering any questions and didn't. He said that one investigator went on about how there are lots of left-wing groups, "doing really good things, like ARA and the ALF, and then you get extremists who give them a bad name."
On October 24, 1996, BARBARASH sent a message to McALPINE stating that he should have sold an animal rights sticker to the cops that visited him for $100. (...) BARBARASH advised McALPINE that he could do a valuable service for activists at the rallies in TORONTO by identifying the cops to everyone he could. He went on to say that they're not CSIS so it's not against the law. BARBARASH went on to say that when cops say things like they said to McALPINE regarding ALF and ARA, then you know just how slimy they are. He says it continually amazes him how stupid they {the police} think they are. Says that maybe most of the unpoliticized citizenry would be taken in by such a con line. (...)
On November 22, 1996, (...) (a) conversation between THURSTON and PEZZANI (... ) was intercepted from the audio installation at the residence at 1074 East 12th Avenue, Vancouver, on November 1, 1996 at 2316 hours. The conversation was difficult to decipher; however, parts of the conversation were very clear. Excerpts from the conversation are as follows:
THURSTON appeared to be showing PEZZANI a program on the computer. THURSTON was talking about not receiving "something", possibly in relation to the computer program. PEZZANI mentioned that "they're just being secure about it." THURSTON then referred to not hearing back regarding the infosite. PEZZANI suggested to "bug him some more." THURSTON agreed with PEZZANI. PEZZANI then stated, "yea, mail bomb him Darren. Hundred of 'em." THURSTON, while laughing, said, "yeah!" THURSTON then stated "I'll throw it in with the mail list, yeah, he'll love me! Oh he might not know it was me." PEZZANI then stated, "don't do that, just ... nice note, that'll do it." The conversation ended with them again referring to what appeared to be a computer program."
So far this condensed search warrant. These last few paragraphs are the
most important and revealing statements in the warrant.
Here's why. It is not illegal in Canada to identify CSIS agents. Only CSIS
employees or agents apparently sign some document or take some oath not
to reveal other agents.
Does that indicate that Barbarash and McAlpine could be CSIS agents? Or
that Barbarash knows, or suspects at least, that McAlpine, who obviously
has no love for the police, would be reluctant to point out CSIS agents?
Why would he be so bashful when it comes to CSIS agents?
It should also be noted that this conversation, taking place on November
22, 1996, happened only some three weeks prior to the massive mail bombing
of Web Communications, where 29.9 million e-mail letters were shot for forty
hours straight into the server that houses the Zundelsite.
Coincidence?
Did the RCMP unwittingly find the WebCom E-mail bombers of December 1996?
The E-mail attack, as you will remember, was re-routed via a Nanaimo, British
Columbia college, only 30 miles from Thurston's apartment! Who else was
involved in that Internet attack, crippling 3,000 websites during the busiest
weekend of the pre-Christmas season and costing consumers hundreds of thousands
of dollars?
Tomorrow: Conclusion and analysis.
Ingrid
Thought for the Day:
"My father understood the mob, made up mostly of blue-eyes like he was, but he never got over the mob being led by a Jew, a Catholic priest, and a Lebanese American."
(Maury Maverick, a Texas free-speech attorney, commenting on his family's long political struggle on behalf of America's Constitution against the forces of subversion, WRMEA, Aug/Sep 1997, p. 35)