Threats Against Olympic Sponsors Worry Security Officials

Canadian Press, March 15, 2009

OTTAWA — Possible threats against sponsors of next year's Vancouver
Olympics have federal security agents wringing their hands over
"extremist elements," a newly released intelligence report reveals.

The report by the government's threat assessment centre cites vandalism
of a corporate backer's premises, theft of the Games flag, and
skirmishes between protesters and police during unveiling of the Olympic
countdown clock.

The Royal Bank of Canada, a key Games sponsor, "has been named
specifically in anarchist and anti-Olympic Internet postings," notes the
analysis, 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics: Terrorist Threat to Vancouver
Area Facilities.

Between September 2007 and last May, anarchists claimed responsibility
for four attacks in which large rocks were thrown through the windows of
Vancouver Royal Bank branches, says the assessment under a section
titled Domestic Non-Islamist Extremist Groups.

"Extremist elements . . . have publicly stated their intent to continue
acts of protest and possible violence against both the Olympics and
commercial symbols they perceive to represent the 2010 Olympic Games."

The threat assessment also looks at Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network
and radicals inspired by the terrorist movement, as well as "Lone Wolf"
attackers like Kimveer Gill, a gunman who killed one student and wounded
19 others at Montreal's Dawson College.

The document was prepared last July by the Integrated Threat Assessment
Centre, which includes representatives of the Canadian Security
Intelligence Service, the RCMP and several other security and police
agencies. A copy was recently released along with other assessments to
The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act.

Several portions of the threat assessments, labelled For Official Use
Only, were withheld from disclosure.

Chris Shaw, spokesman for Games monitoring group 2010watch, found the
reports amateurish.

"This is the best they can do?" he asked.

"These guys need to get a serious grip, frankly. I think they're really
confusing legitimate political dissent, however disruptive it might be,
with a threat. And it's simply not."

More than 5,000 athletes are expected from 80 countries at the Winter
Games, to begin next February in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C.

Numerous activists, from aboriginal groups to anti-poverty fighters,
oppose the Games, saying the expensive mega-event will hurt Vancouver's
poor, damage the environment and drain provincial coffers.

The cost of Games security has been pegged at $900 million, far more
than the original estimate.

Organizers are depending on corporate sponsors including the Royal Bank
to support and promote the Games, but their participation appears to
have heightened fears they will become targets for those who claim the
Olympics have come to symbolize money more than sport.

The threat assessment centre prepared two briefs last September on
possible actions against the Canadian Pacific Spirit Train that
travelled to Montreal from Vancouver to drum up Olympic enthusiasm.

"There have been calls to boycott companies and organizations which
support or sponsor the upcoming games," says one assessment. "Acts of
vandalism, criminal mischief and trespass against sites associated to
the Olympics and its sponsors have taken place and now protest action
against the train is being encouraged."

CSIS referred a request for comment to the B.C.-based integrated unit
responsible for Games security. However, a unit spokesman did not return
phone calls.

Shaw fears the threat assessments cold be used to justify cracking down
on groups that oppose the Games.

"No one knows who threw the rocks through the (Royal Bank) windows," he
said. "Just because somebody's posted something to some obscure blog . .
. assuming that therefore you're dealing with anti-2010 anarchist
protesters, to use their term, is just absurd.

"If the police knew who'd done it, they would have arrested them, and
they haven't. So it could be anybody."

The Royal Bank refused an interview request, but said in a statement it
believes most people don't support vandalism against sponsors, adding
that the safety and security of employees, clients and suppliers are the
bank's top priorities.

"We have numerous security measures in place to protect them and will
continue to assess and enhance our security procedures as required," the
bank said.

"RBC respects the right of people to express their opinions as long as
it is done in a peaceful and respectful manner. We accept that there
will always be critics; we would only hope that criticism will be
constructive and truthful."