Couple Sues Rcmp Governments After Charges Stayed In Alleged Bc Bomb Plot

A couple accused of plotting to blow up the BC legislature with pressure cookers nearly 10 years ago have filed a lawsuit against the federal government, the province and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, claiming their Charter rights and Islamic beliefs were violated were misrepresented to result in “Malicious prosecution”. The legal challenge comes four years after the BC Court of Appeal unanimously ruled in December 2018 to uphold a judge’s decision to stay terrorism charges against John Nuttall and Amanda Korody because of a police holdup. The pair were found guilty in June 2015 of conspiracy to commit murder and possession of explosives in a public place on behalf of a terrorist group. Mr. Nuttall and Ms. Korody were arrested in 2013 following a six-month undercover operation by the RCMP that began after police received information that Mr. Nuttall had openly expressed violent extremist views. The trial heard that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service tipped off Mounties in 2013 that Mr. Nuttall had tried to buy potassium nitrate, which can be used to make explosives. BC Supreme Court Justice Catherine Bruce said in 2016 that police used deception and veiled threats to plan the bomb and influence the couple to act on it. He also said the defendants proved to be “marginalized, isolated people who held extremist jihadist views” but were not motivated or able to act on those beliefs. “I can find no error in the court’s conclusion that the police fabricated the crime that was committed and were the principal agents in its commission,” Justice Elizabeth Bennett said in a 2018 decision from the BC Court of Appeal. Serious harms listed in the legal document include imprisonment, emotional distress, psychiatric harm, damage to reputation and constant attention from law enforcement. The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages and costs. Nathan Muirhead, the barrister representing the couple, said they had suffered significant psychological damage as a result of the investigation and the case which garnered global attention. He said the lawsuit gives them “an opportunity to tell their story” and is meant to ensure the RCMP never “abuses its power and resources” in the same way again. “What happened to John and Amanda was a travesty of justice. There would not have been a conspiracy if not for the actions of the RCMP,” Mr. Muirhead said. “There was psychological coercion [and] logistical support from the RCMP. These were people recovering from drug addiction, welfare, methadone. They did not leave a small radius around their basement apartment.’ The 22-page notice of civil action, filed Monday, includes many details about the alleged tactics used by the RCMP to coerce the couple into planting bombs in downtown Victoria on Canada Day in 2013. Mr. Muirhead said the couple were not ready to talk publicly about their experience so far. The PK Ministry of Public Security, the Attorney General and the federal government said they could not comment on the lawsuit as it is before the courts. The RCMP did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The lawsuit alleges that the officers involved in the sting “came to dominate and completely control” the couple by exploiting their Islamic beliefs, isolating them from friends and family, and providing money and drugs used for substance abuse. “Officer A (unnamed) provided religious guidance to Mr Natal and Ms Korody, claiming to speak with knowledge of the Muslim faith and offering guidance from Allah without proper knowledge, learning or understanding of Islam,” the document states. “The officers [incited] extremist views and reinforced the claimant’s belief that certain acts of violence are permitted or encouraged in Islam.” The undercover investigation, called “Project Souvenir,” was approved in February 2013, despite a “lack of evidence of any criminal activity or plans for criminal activity,” according to the lawsuit. It is alleged that Officer A was not properly trained for the role and was only chosen because he was Muslim. He initially made contact with the claimants at a gas station they frequented and later “played the part of an Arab businessman” looking for his niece to attract Mr Nuttall’s attention. Officer A told them he was part of a large, international terrorist organization and, over the following months, and with other officers, encouraged the pair to devise a plan to engage in terrorism. The plans were largely considered “fancy and impossible” until the RCMP reportedly helped come up with a feasible plan. It says Mr Nuttall sought spiritual guidance several times after expressing his view that killing may be forbidden by Islam. Attempts to de-radicalize the couple allegedly failed and eventually the couple felt they had no choice but to “follow the will of Allah”. In June 2013, Mr Nuttall provided Officer A with incomplete hand-drawn diagrams of a rocket and an improvised explosive device using a pressure cooker copied from Al Qaeda’s online magazine. No definite plan was formulated until instructions were given by the police. The couple said they feared for their lives if he didn’t follow through and used welfare money to buy the devices, with funds available because Officer A paid for other expenses. The devices contained traces of C4 and the RCMP allegedly provided fake detonators. The pair eventually planted the devices in bushes near the legislature. Policeman A then led them to a hotel where they were arrested. RCMP said the public was never in danger. Mr Nuttall and Ms Korody, who live in the Lower Mainland, are unemployed and continue to work together on their recovery. We have a weekly Western Canada newsletter written by our BC and Alberta bureau chiefs, providing a comprehensive package of the news you need to know about the region and its position on the issues facing Canada. Sign up today.

title: “Couple Sues Rcmp Governments After Charges Stayed In Alleged Bc Bomb Plot Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-07” author: “April Alexander”

A couple accused of plotting to blow up the BC legislature with pressure cookers nearly 10 years ago have filed a lawsuit against the federal government, the province and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, claiming their Charter rights and Islamic beliefs were violated were misrepresented to result in “Malicious prosecution”. The legal challenge comes four years after the BC Court of Appeal unanimously ruled in December 2018 to uphold a judge’s decision to stay terrorism charges against John Nuttall and Amanda Korody because of a police holdup. The pair were found guilty in June 2015 of conspiracy to commit murder and possession of explosives in a public place on behalf of a terrorist group. Mr. Nuttall and Ms. Korody were arrested in 2013 following a six-month undercover operation by the RCMP that began after police received information that Mr. Nuttall had openly expressed violent extremist views. The trial heard that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service tipped off Mounties in 2013 that Mr. Nuttall had tried to buy potassium nitrate, which can be used to make explosives. BC Supreme Court Justice Catherine Bruce said in 2016 that police used deception and veiled threats to plan the bomb and influence the couple to act on it. He also said the defendants proved to be “marginalized, isolated people who held extremist jihadist views” but were not motivated or able to act on those beliefs. “I can find no error in the court’s conclusion that the police fabricated the crime that was committed and were the principal agents in its commission,” Justice Elizabeth Bennett said in a 2018 decision from the BC Court of Appeal. Serious harms listed in the legal document include imprisonment, emotional distress, psychiatric harm, damage to reputation and constant attention from law enforcement. The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages and costs. Nathan Muirhead, the barrister representing the couple, said they had suffered significant psychological damage as a result of the investigation and the case which garnered global attention. He said the lawsuit gives them “an opportunity to tell their story” and is meant to ensure the RCMP never “abuses its power and resources” in the same way again. “What happened to John and Amanda was a travesty of justice. There would not have been a conspiracy if not for the actions of the RCMP,” Mr. Muirhead said. “There was psychological coercion [and] logistical support from the RCMP. These were people recovering from drug addiction, welfare, methadone. They did not leave a small radius around their basement apartment.’ The 22-page notice of civil action, filed Monday, includes many details about the alleged tactics used by the RCMP to coerce the couple into planting bombs in downtown Victoria on Canada Day in 2013. Mr. Muirhead said the couple were not ready to talk publicly about their experience so far. The PK Ministry of Public Security, the Attorney General and the federal government said they could not comment on the lawsuit as it is before the courts. The RCMP did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The lawsuit alleges that the officers involved in the sting “came to dominate and completely control” the couple by exploiting their Islamic beliefs, isolating them from friends and family, and providing money and drugs used for substance abuse. “Officer A (unnamed) provided religious guidance to Mr Natal and Ms Korody, claiming to speak with knowledge of the Muslim faith and offering guidance from Allah without proper knowledge, learning or understanding of Islam,” the document states. “The officers [incited] extremist views and reinforced the claimant’s belief that certain acts of violence are permitted or encouraged in Islam.” The undercover investigation, called “Project Souvenir,” was approved in February 2013, despite a “lack of evidence of any criminal activity or plans for criminal activity,” according to the lawsuit. It is alleged that Officer A was not properly trained for the role and was only chosen because he was Muslim. He initially made contact with the claimants at a gas station they frequented and later “played the part of an Arab businessman” looking for his niece to attract Mr Nuttall’s attention. Officer A told them he was part of a large, international terrorist organization and, over the following months, and with other officers, encouraged the pair to devise a plan to engage in terrorism. The plans were largely considered “fancy and impossible” until the RCMP reportedly helped come up with a feasible plan. It says Mr Nuttall sought spiritual guidance several times after expressing his view that killing may be forbidden by Islam. Attempts to de-radicalize the couple allegedly failed and eventually the couple felt they had no choice but to “follow the will of Allah”. In June 2013, Mr Nuttall provided Officer A with incomplete hand-drawn diagrams of a rocket and an improvised explosive device using a pressure cooker copied from Al Qaeda’s online magazine. No definite plan was formulated until instructions were given by the police. The couple said they feared for their lives if he didn’t follow through and used welfare money to buy the devices, with funds available because Officer A paid for other expenses. The devices contained traces of C4 and the RCMP allegedly provided fake detonators. The pair eventually planted the devices in bushes near the legislature. Policeman A then led them to a hotel where they were arrested. RCMP said the public was never in danger. Mr Nuttall and Ms Korody, who live in the Lower Mainland, are unemployed and continue to work together on their recovery. We have a weekly Western Canada newsletter written by our BC and Alberta bureau chiefs, providing a comprehensive package of the news you need to know about the region and its position on the issues facing Canada. Sign up today.

title: “Couple Sues Rcmp Governments After Charges Stayed In Alleged Bc Bomb Plot Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-14” author: “Juanita Frasier”

A couple accused of plotting to blow up the BC legislature with pressure cookers nearly 10 years ago have filed a lawsuit against the federal government, the province and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, claiming their Charter rights and Islamic beliefs were violated were misrepresented to result in “Malicious prosecution”. The legal challenge comes four years after the BC Court of Appeal unanimously ruled in December 2018 to uphold a judge’s decision to stay terrorism charges against John Nuttall and Amanda Korody because of a police holdup. The pair were found guilty in June 2015 of conspiracy to commit murder and possession of explosives in a public place on behalf of a terrorist group. Mr. Nuttall and Ms. Korody were arrested in 2013 following a six-month undercover operation by the RCMP that began after police received information that Mr. Nuttall had openly expressed violent extremist views. The trial heard that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service tipped off Mounties in 2013 that Mr. Nuttall had tried to buy potassium nitrate, which can be used to make explosives. BC Supreme Court Justice Catherine Bruce said in 2016 that police used deception and veiled threats to plan the bomb and influence the couple to act on it. He also said the defendants proved to be “marginalized, isolated people who held extremist jihadist views” but were not motivated or able to act on those beliefs. “I can find no error in the court’s conclusion that the police fabricated the crime that was committed and were the principal agents in its commission,” Justice Elizabeth Bennett said in a 2018 decision from the BC Court of Appeal. Serious harms listed in the legal document include imprisonment, emotional distress, psychiatric harm, damage to reputation and constant attention from law enforcement. The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages and costs. Nathan Muirhead, the barrister representing the couple, said they had suffered significant psychological damage as a result of the investigation and the case which garnered global attention. He said the lawsuit gives them “an opportunity to tell their story” and is meant to ensure the RCMP never “abuses its power and resources” in the same way again. “What happened to John and Amanda was a travesty of justice. There would not have been a conspiracy if not for the actions of the RCMP,” Mr. Muirhead said. “There was psychological coercion [and] logistical support from the RCMP. These were people recovering from drug addiction, welfare, methadone. They did not leave a small radius around their basement apartment.’ The 22-page notice of civil action, filed Monday, includes many details about the alleged tactics used by the RCMP to coerce the couple into planting bombs in downtown Victoria on Canada Day in 2013. Mr. Muirhead said the couple were not ready to talk publicly about their experience so far. The PK Ministry of Public Security, the Attorney General and the federal government said they could not comment on the lawsuit as it is before the courts. The RCMP did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The lawsuit alleges that the officers involved in the sting “came to dominate and completely control” the couple by exploiting their Islamic beliefs, isolating them from friends and family, and providing money and drugs used for substance abuse. “Officer A (unnamed) provided religious guidance to Mr Natal and Ms Korody, claiming to speak with knowledge of the Muslim faith and offering guidance from Allah without proper knowledge, learning or understanding of Islam,” the document states. “The officers [incited] extremist views and reinforced the claimant’s belief that certain acts of violence are permitted or encouraged in Islam.” The undercover investigation, called “Project Souvenir,” was approved in February 2013, despite a “lack of evidence of any criminal activity or plans for criminal activity,” according to the lawsuit. It is alleged that Officer A was not properly trained for the role and was only chosen because he was Muslim. He initially made contact with the claimants at a gas station they frequented and later “played the part of an Arab businessman” looking for his niece to attract Mr Nuttall’s attention. Officer A told them he was part of a large, international terrorist organization and, over the following months, and with other officers, encouraged the pair to devise a plan to engage in terrorism. The plans were largely considered “fancy and impossible” until the RCMP reportedly helped come up with a feasible plan. It says Mr Nuttall sought spiritual guidance several times after expressing his view that killing may be forbidden by Islam. Attempts to de-radicalize the couple allegedly failed and eventually the couple felt they had no choice but to “follow the will of Allah”. In June 2013, Mr Nuttall provided Officer A with incomplete hand-drawn diagrams of a rocket and an improvised explosive device using a pressure cooker copied from Al Qaeda’s online magazine. No definite plan was formulated until instructions were given by the police. The couple said they feared for their lives if he didn’t follow through and used welfare money to buy the devices, with funds available because Officer A paid for other expenses. The devices contained traces of C4 and the RCMP allegedly provided fake detonators. The pair eventually planted the devices in bushes near the legislature. Policeman A then led them to a hotel where they were arrested. RCMP said the public was never in danger. Mr Nuttall and Ms Korody, who live in the Lower Mainland, are unemployed and continue to work together on their recovery. We have a weekly Western Canada newsletter written by our BC and Alberta bureau chiefs, providing a comprehensive package of the news you need to know about the region and its position on the issues facing Canada. Sign up today.

title: “Couple Sues Rcmp Governments After Charges Stayed In Alleged Bc Bomb Plot Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-23” author: “Scott Sonnier”

A couple accused of plotting to blow up the BC legislature with pressure cookers nearly 10 years ago have filed a lawsuit against the federal government, the province and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, claiming their Charter rights and Islamic beliefs were violated were misrepresented to result in “Malicious prosecution”. The legal challenge comes four years after the BC Court of Appeal unanimously ruled in December 2018 to uphold a judge’s decision to stay terrorism charges against John Nuttall and Amanda Korody because of a police holdup. The pair were found guilty in June 2015 of conspiracy to commit murder and possession of explosives in a public place on behalf of a terrorist group. Mr. Nuttall and Ms. Korody were arrested in 2013 following a six-month undercover operation by the RCMP that began after police received information that Mr. Nuttall had openly expressed violent extremist views. The trial heard that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service tipped off Mounties in 2013 that Mr. Nuttall had tried to buy potassium nitrate, which can be used to make explosives. BC Supreme Court Justice Catherine Bruce said in 2016 that police used deception and veiled threats to plan the bomb and influence the couple to act on it. He also said the defendants proved to be “marginalized, isolated people who held extremist jihadist views” but were not motivated or able to act on those beliefs. “I can find no error in the court’s conclusion that the police fabricated the crime that was committed and were the principal agents in its commission,” Justice Elizabeth Bennett said in a 2018 decision from the BC Court of Appeal. Serious harms listed in the legal document include imprisonment, emotional distress, psychiatric harm, damage to reputation and constant attention from law enforcement. The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages and costs. Nathan Muirhead, the barrister representing the couple, said they had suffered significant psychological damage as a result of the investigation and the case which garnered global attention. He said the lawsuit gives them “an opportunity to tell their story” and is meant to ensure the RCMP never “abuses its power and resources” in the same way again. “What happened to John and Amanda was a travesty of justice. There would not have been a conspiracy if not for the actions of the RCMP,” Mr. Muirhead said. “There was psychological coercion [and] logistical support from the RCMP. These were people recovering from drug addiction, welfare, methadone. They did not leave a small radius around their basement apartment.’ The 22-page notice of civil action, filed Monday, includes many details about the alleged tactics used by the RCMP to coerce the couple into planting bombs in downtown Victoria on Canada Day in 2013. Mr. Muirhead said the couple were not ready to talk publicly about their experience so far. The PK Ministry of Public Security, the Attorney General and the federal government said they could not comment on the lawsuit as it is before the courts. The RCMP did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The lawsuit alleges that the officers involved in the sting “came to dominate and completely control” the couple by exploiting their Islamic beliefs, isolating them from friends and family, and providing money and drugs used for substance abuse. “Officer A (unnamed) provided religious guidance to Mr Natal and Ms Korody, claiming to speak with knowledge of the Muslim faith and offering guidance from Allah without proper knowledge, learning or understanding of Islam,” the document states. “The officers [incited] extremist views and reinforced the claimant’s belief that certain acts of violence are permitted or encouraged in Islam.” The undercover investigation, called “Project Souvenir,” was approved in February 2013, despite a “lack of evidence of any criminal activity or plans for criminal activity,” according to the lawsuit. It is alleged that Officer A was not properly trained for the role and was only chosen because he was Muslim. He initially made contact with the claimants at a gas station they frequented and later “played the part of an Arab businessman” looking for his niece to attract Mr Nuttall’s attention. Officer A told them he was part of a large, international terrorist organization and, over the following months, and with other officers, encouraged the pair to devise a plan to engage in terrorism. The plans were largely considered “fancy and impossible” until the RCMP reportedly helped come up with a feasible plan. It says Mr Nuttall sought spiritual guidance several times after expressing his view that killing may be forbidden by Islam. Attempts to de-radicalize the couple allegedly failed and eventually the couple felt they had no choice but to “follow the will of Allah”. In June 2013, Mr Nuttall provided Officer A with incomplete hand-drawn diagrams of a rocket and an improvised explosive device using a pressure cooker copied from Al Qaeda’s online magazine. No definite plan was formulated until instructions were given by the police. The couple said they feared for their lives if he didn’t follow through and used welfare money to buy the devices, with funds available because Officer A paid for other expenses. The devices contained traces of C4 and the RCMP allegedly provided fake detonators. The pair eventually planted the devices in bushes near the legislature. Policeman A then led them to a hotel where they were arrested. RCMP said the public was never in danger. Mr Nuttall and Ms Korody, who live in the Lower Mainland, are unemployed and continue to work together on their recovery. We have a weekly Western Canada newsletter written by our BC and Alberta bureau chiefs, providing a comprehensive package of the news you need to know about the region and its position on the issues facing Canada. Sign up today.