Arrests made in bank firebombing

Three Ottawa men will appear in court Saturday morning charged in the firebombing of a Glebe RBC branch last month that was called a case of domestic terrorism.

The men were picked up by police in different parts of the city Friday and taken into custody.

The men had been under heavy police surveillance since just days after a firebomb destroyed the front of the RBC at the intersection of First Ave. and Bank St. on May 18 at about 3:30 a.m.

Police had been holding off on making arrests as they tried to gather evidence to support terrorism charges.

A video of the bombing was posted to an anti-establishment website hours after by the “catch me if you can” activists.

It included a message saying the reason behind the bombing was RBC’s sponsorship of the 2010 Olympics on stolen Native land. They had vowed to “be there” at the G20/G8 summits in Toronto and Huntsville.

Claude Haridge, 50, Roger Clement, 58, and Mathew Morgan-Brown, in his 30s, each face charges of arson and mischief.

Haridge is also charged with improper storage of ammunition relating to an incident May 27 outside of Ottawa when he was picked up by the Ontario Provincial Police.

All three men have been involved in various anti-establishment protests in Ottawa over the years.

Haridge was arrested Friday after he left his Stittsville home at 1208 Carp Rd. Police raided the home for evidence at about 11 a.m.

A neighbour said Haridge has lived there at least six years and would help him out sometimes when it came to cutting the grass.

He said Haridge was a guy he’d wave hello to.

Haridge is an engineer and worked at Terrapoint Canada where a spokeswoman said they had no comment

Haridge’s mother, Louise, was shocked Friday night when told her son had been arrested by Ottawa police.

“Well, I don’t know what happened today,” she said.

Told the news, she said it was impossible.

At about the same time Haridge was arrested, police arrested Clement, who lives in Centretown.

It is alleged Clement rented the 2010 GMC Acadia SUV used in the firebombing. It was driven more than 1,500 km in two days.

Clement spoke with the Sun in the days following the firebombing and denied having any involvement in the attack but admitted to renting the SUV.

“No, no, no,” the retired civil servant said, shaking his head when asked if he was involved in the bombing, but said he was worried.

Clement said he rented the SUV to help his brother in Peterborough. He used his credit card and didn’t bother getting insurance.

“It wasn’t to help him move but it was something like that,” he said.

He quickly became guarded and said he had a lawyer when asked for more information.

“I’ve been told up and down not to talk,” he said.

During the interview at the James Street Pub reporters were interrupted by Morgan-Brown who asked if he could bum a cigarette. He hung around until everyone left.

The Acadia was equipped with OnStar, which means its route could be tracked by police. 

Brown, 31 at the time, was arrested in August 2007 for assaulting a police officer during a protest at the North American leaders summit in Montebello, Que.

Haridge was to appear in court in August on unrelated charges of mischief, unlawful assembly and assaulting a police officer on May 27, 2009.

The police investigation into the firebombing was applauded by Public Safety Minister Vic Toews.

“I commend the outstanding cooperation between law enforcement agencies that has led to these arrests,” said Toews.

“We have a comprehensive approach to security planning and we are on track to host safe and secure G8 and G20 Summits.”

Police said terrorism charges could still be laid.