[asia-apec 1252] CBC: APEC inquiry hears of bomb threats, security breaches

[Brian Dawson]

APEC inquiry hears of bomb threats, security breaches

CBC News Online [www.cbcnews.cbc.ca; see links below]
WebPosted Mon Aug 16 21:42:06 1999

VANCOUVER - A senior RCMP officer testifying at the APEC inquiry in 
Vancouver Monday told officials of a "security nightmare" at the 1997 
summit that included the discovery of one explosive device. 

INDEPTH: After Apec [http://www.cbcnews.cbc.ca/news/indepth/apec/]

Superintendent Wayne May says police received two bomb
threats just as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit
in Vancouver was getting under way. 

May says officers did find one explosive device, possibly a blasting cap, 
along one of the main motorcade routes from the airport to downtown 
Vancouver, under the Arthur Lang Bridge. 

Officers later determined the presence of the device was not likely 
related to the APEC summit but the RCMP lawyer says all of the various 
risks contributed to the stress around securing the summit. 

"When those kinds of things arose it simply didn't do anything to make 
their (the RCMP's) concerns go away it just served to make their concerns 
all the greater," says George MacIntosh. 

May also testified that police were told there would be three attempts to 
breach the security fence on the day of the student protests at the 
University of British Columbia campus. 

The APEC inquiry is being conducted by the RCMP Public Complaints 
Commission. It's looking into police conduct at protests during the 
summit. 

Complaints accuse the RCMP of violating protesters' rights and of using 
excessive force by pushing and pepper-spraying demonstrators. 

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* Story at:
www.cbcnews.cbc.ca/cgi-bin/templates/view.cgi?/news/1999/08/16/apec990816
* Audio report:
www.cbcnews.cbc.ca/clips/ram-lo/savory990816.ram
* Video report:
www.cbcnews.cbc.ca/clips/ram-audio/dearing990816.ram