The RCMP’s National Security Enforcement Team is investigating threats allegedly posted online by a former Army reservist against a new Liberal MP.
According to court documents obtained by CBC, investigators were alerted last spring to a video posted on Facebook that showed a man firing a rifle at a photo of Wilson Miao before the Richmond Center MP was arrested. “We’re going to figure out what’s going to happen,” he said. To him. “
Police seized more than a dozen firearms after obtaining a search warrant for the 29-year-old suspect’s home in Vancouver and neighboring Richmond, British Columbia, to the south. An RCMP spokesperson confirmed the investigation is still ongoing.
CBC is not releasing the suspect’s name because no criminal charges have been filed.
Mr. Miao’s office acknowledged the investigation in a statement but declined to comment further or provide further details.
“Our primary focus is to fully cooperate with law enforcement to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation,” Miao Chief of Staff Alfred Lai said in an email to CBC News. Ta.
“The safety and well-being of our constituents remains our top priority, and we appreciate the community’s patience and understanding during this process.”
“One shot was fired at close range at the sign.”
Mr Miao was elected in the 2021 federal election, defeating the Conservative incumbent by just 772 votes.
He made headlines in the months that followed after his opponents claimed that he and another newly elected member of parliament were influenced by pro-China activists, a claim that Federal Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino rejected. denied as groundless.
According to information sworn to obtain a search warrant, an acquaintance of the suspect contacted the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) on May 15, 2023, after seeing a disturbing video posted on the man’s Facebook page. .
VPD contacted the RCMP’s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team. This team is tasked with tracking, deterring, disrupting and preventing criminal activity by those who pose a threat to Canada’s security.
According to the search warrant application, the video began with two screenshots of a news article talking about an “unusual decline in the riding vote due to concerns about Chinese interference.”
“The third part was a video of an Asian male…wearing black sunglasses and beige face covering, holding what appears to be a shotgun somewhere in the wilderness,” the search warrant states.
The suspect “was holding a paper sign with Congressman Miao’s name and photo on it, saying, ‘This is a Communist, he’ll take whatever comes to him, Mashalla.’ ” After placing the sign on the ground, [he] He then raised his shotgun and fired one shot at the sign at close range. ”
An RCMP officer who swore he provided information to obtain the search warrant noted that the video appeared to have been shot by another person.
“both [the suspect] The search warrant states that another unknown person began recording “Allah Akbar” repeatedly.
“Allahu Akbar” is a common Arabic expression that translates to “God is great.”
The police officer who applied for the search warrant said, “From my experience as a national security investigator, I recognized that ‘Allah Akbar’ is often a phrase uttered by Islamic extremists before committing acts of violence or terrorism.” It says that it was.
“Six to seven other unrestricted long guns.”
According to the search warrant, Miao immediately became aware of the threat.
“Miao was briefed on the nature of the threat and the use of firearms,” the warrant states.
“Rep. Miao explained that he wanted to know about the safety of his family and requested that some measures be taken to strengthen their security.”
According to the search warrant, the suspect retired from the Canadian Forces Reserve in 2019 and had a valid firearms license, but did not have a registered firearm.
The suspect turned himself in to the Richmond RCMP detachment on May 17 after investigators visited his home, where he was found to be on duty.
The suspect was arrested and “admitted that he appeared in the Facebook story,” according to the search warrant. He also said there were “six or seven other unrestricted long guns in the bedroom, but they were not kept in a safe, they were next to the bed.”
After obtaining a search warrant, police seized an airsoft gun, 12 rifles, and various types of ammunition from the man’s residence.
RCMP declined a request for comment on the investigation.
Investigators are considering charges of threatening to cause death or bodily harm and use of a firearm against the suspect, according to the warrant.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.