Kitchener man charged with uttering threats toward Trudeau at campaign stop in Cambridge
A 32-year-old Kitchener resident has been charged in connection with threats made toward Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau during a campaign stop in Cambridge, Ont.
The charges appear to be the first laid in Canada for an incident along Trudeau's campaign trail, which has been rife with protests.
Trudeau was in Cambridge on Aug. 29 when the alleged threats occurred.
According to a release, Waterloo regional police launched an investigation on Aug. 31 into alleged threats toward Trudeau after viewing video of the event, speaking to witnesses and receiving information from the RCMP.
A Kitchener man has been arrested and charged with two counts of uttering threats.
"The alleged threats occurred from a live video that was taken at the event," said Cst. Ashley Dietrich with Waterloo regional police. "I can't speak to any specifics of the threats that were made, however, they did describe harm and/or death to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau."
Police said the investigation remains ongoing.
"Everybody does have a right to a peaceful protest, but we encourage people to do it in a peaceful manner," Dietrich said. "Any time where uttering threats toward a person or their property is made, and where people can be identified, criminal charges will be laid."
Groups of protestors shouting obscenities, brandishing the middle finger and carrying sometimes graphic signs have become a mainstay at most of Trudeau's campaign stops in recent weeks.
In Cambridge, the Liberal Leader was met with crowds of protesters sounding air sirens and chanting "lock him up."
That came just days after a Trudeau campaign event in the Greater Toronto Area had to be cancelled after police said unruly protesters posed a security threat.
Both Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh denounced those protests.
On Monday, at a campaign stop in London, Ont., protesters threw gravel at Trudeau. London police have said they are investigating the incident.
Trudeau has called the protestors "anti-vaxxer mobs," adding he "can't back down" on his election campaign.
With files from CTV Kitchener's Jeff Pickel, CTV News and The Canadian Press.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
Katy Perry's mom was fooled by AI images of the singer at the Met Gala
Katy Perry did not attend the Met Gala on Monday, but some of the singer’s fans – and even her mom – thought she did.