UK prosecutor states Broughton planted bombs (Independent)‏

Sent: June 16, 2010 4:12:30 PM


The Independent (UK)
Animal rights campaigner planted university bombs
By Lauren Turner, Press Association
Wednesday, 16 June 2010
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/cri...bs-2002231.html

An animal rights campaigner planted home-made petrol bombs at two
Oxford University sites, a court heard today.

Mel Broughton is alleged to have been protesting against the building
of an animal testing laboratory in Oxford which was backed by the
university.

The 49-year-old man, who spearheaded animal welfare group Speak, was
described as a "fanatic" who mounted a "terrorist campaign" against
Oxford University.

Two devices placed under a portable cabin at Templeton College, failed
to go off. Another, put on the roof of Queen's College's cricket
pavilion did ignite, causing a blaze that resulted in nearly £14,000
of damage.

Each bomb shared the unusual hallmark of using firework sparklers as a
fuse, with the petrol contained in large water bottles, Oxford Crown
Court heard.

Broughton's DNA was found on the base of one of the unexploded devices
under the cabin, and also on a pack of sparklers found in an unused
water tank at his Northampton home.

Although non-residential buildings were targeted, prosecutor Neil
Moore said: "When any such device is lit anywhere, and if they go off,
the consequences are very unpredictable."

He told the jury: "Given the large quantity of petrol involved, had
these devices at Templeton College ignited, then at the very least it
could have resulted in a substantial fire.

"This could have had the potential to light nearby flammable
materials, with all the dangers that suggests.

"You can imagine, if the fire had taken hold, the consequent damage
that could ensue."

Each device at Templeton College consisted of two bottles, filled with
4.5 litres of petrol, strapped together. The device that exploded at
the cricket pavilion contained 12 litres of petrol.

One of the petrol-filled bottles at Templeton College had its cap
fitted loosely, allowing vapour to leak out.

Mr Moore added: "It could have caused a violent fireball, rather than
the steady spread of fire."

Broughton's connection with animal rights campaigns is well-known,
with items including CVs of Oxford University staff and one employee's
security pass found at his home after his arrest.

Mr Moore said: "There can be no doubt that he lived and breathed animal rights."

The first device was set at the cricket pavilion on November 18 2006,
with the unexploded devices at Templeton College found on February 26
2007, eight days after they were lit.

At the time, Broughton was banned from entering Oxford as a condition
of his bail, having been charged with inciting others to commit an
offence - a charge he was later cleared of.

In 1998, Broughton admitted conspiracy to cause an explosion after
incendiary devices were found in a car, in which he was a passenger,
in Northampton.

It was while in jail for that offence that details emerged of an
animal testing laboratory planned for Cambridge, and Broughton became
involved in the campaign against it.

When that proposal was scrapped, a similar scheme for Oxford was
unveiled, which led to Speak being set up. Broughton organised
protests and vigils.

Some of Broughton's speeches, in which he accuses the university of
"bloody murder" were filmed by police.

He told officers during one event, in January 2006: "Every single day,
you're going to have to wonder what's going to happen next. What's
going to hit you next."

Details of the attacks Broughton is accused of, and others in Oxford
in which he is not implicated, were posted on US website Bite Back
shortly after they took place.

In one message, the university was warned: "Nothing you own, rent, or
have dealings with is off limits until this project is scrapped."

Broughton, of Semilong Road, Northampton, denies conspiracy to commit
arson and an alternative charge of possession of an article with
intent to destroy property.

The trial, expected to last two weeks, continues.

Three charged in CAN bank firebombing (Canwest NS)‏

Sent: June 21, 2010 1:31:00 PM

National Post (CAN)
Charges laid against three in Ottawa firebombing
Canwest News Service •
Saturday, Jun. 19, 2010
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/Charges+laid+against+three+Ottawa+firebombing/3176547/story.html


OTTAWA — Three men charged in last month’s firebombing of an Ottawa
bank appeared in court Saturday morning as charges against them were
formally announced.

Roger Clement, 58, Matthew Morgan-Brown, 32, Claude Haridge, 50,
remained in custody and are now awaiting a bail hearing set for next
Friday.

“I firmly believe Ottawa is safer today than yesterday,” Ottawa Police
Chief Vern White told a news conference Saturday.

Police indicated their investigation was continuing and they would not
rule out further charges, including the possibility the three men
could be charged with terrorism.

“I would ask Ottawa residents to remain vigilant before and during the
G8 and G20, and continue to report any suspicious activity to police,”
Mr. White said.

“The expectation is that not everyone will protest in one location;
this is still the nation’s capital so it won’t be a surprise if we
have some protesters here.”

Ottawa lawyer Lawrence Greenspon, who recently defended the convicted
terrorist Momin Khawaja, acted on behalf of the three accused
Saturday.

Mr. Clement and Mr. Morgan-Brown are each facing four charges in
relation to the incident at a Royal Bank branch located just two
kilometres from Parliament Hill in the city’s Glebe neighbourhood:
arson causing damage, possession of incendiary material, the use of
explosives with intent to cause property damage and mischief.

Mr. Clement is a retired public servant, whose last job was at the
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Earlier in the
investigation, police had seized a 2010 Acadia SUV rented by Mr.
Clement that they believe was used as a getaway car in the
firebombing, the Ottawa Citizen reported.

Mr. Morgan-Brown is a well-known activist who was also arrested before
the 2007 summit in Montebello, Que., and charged with assaulting
police.

Haridge is charged with failing to comply with an undertaking and the
careless storage/handling of ammunition.

Police said they recovered hundreds of rounds of .762-calibre
ammunition. They were stored in an ammunition box with .50-calibre
markings, and police initially said Saturday they had recovered
.50-calibre bullets, a military-level grade of ammunition, before
later correcting themselves.

The May 18 firebombing caused about $500,000 in damage.

Authorities had feared it was just the start of a “domestic terrorism”
campaign launched by anarchists bent on acts of destruction at the G20
summit in Toronto.

“The incident . . . had the potential to be much more devastating than
it was,” the Ottawa police chief said. “I think it had the potential
to both scare or drive fear into residents of the city.”

The firebombing and its investigation played out publicly after a
“catch-me-if-you-can” video of the incident was posted online by a
group called FFFC-Ottawa.

The acronym stands for Fight for Freedom Coalition, according to
Canada’s spy agency, CSIS. In its online statement, the group
threatened to be present at the Toronto summit.

The investigation also led to additional charges against two of the
men in connection with damage at another RBC location in Ottawa.

Mr. Haridge and Mr. Clement each face one charge of mischief after an
RBC branch in Ottawa’s south end saw several windows and ATMs damaged
on Feb. 1, 2010, using rocks and a hammer.

RBC branches across Canada have been the target of dozens of attacks since 2007.

Ottawa Citizen and Canwest News Service