RCMP Lay Criminal Charges for Terrorist Hoax

TORONTO, Feb. 4, 2014 /CNW/ - Today, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) laid criminal charges for Terrorist Hoax and Public Mischief under Sections 83.231 and 140.1 of the Criminal Code against Darlton GRAHAM of London, Ontario and Majorie CHAMBERLAIN of Brantford, Ontario. CHAMBERLAIN has also been charged under Section 22 of the Criminal Code for Counseling an Offence.

These charges follow a national security criminal investigation conducted jointly between the RCMP O Division and K Division Integrated National Security Enforcement Teams (INSETs), based in Toronto, Ontario and Edmonton, Alberta respectively. The investigation began on January 22, 2014 following an anonymous national security tip that was later determined to be a hoax.

"The RCMP would like to remind the public that it takes all threats to Canada's national security seriously and to determine their credibility, we must fully investigate each and every one of them," commented Insp. Lise Crouch, Officer in Charge of the INSET team in Toronto.  "Investigating potential threats consumes significant resources and time for the police, domestic and international, and all other agencies and partners that play a role in public safety. Terrorist hoaxes are far from harmless pranks. They cause real public apprehension, result in unnecessary and very costly responses by law enforcement and divert valuable resources which would be better allocated to serious matters that impact public safety."

GRAHAM and CHAMBERLAIN are scheduled to appear at the London Courthouse (80 Dundas St.) on March 18, 2014.

The RCMP would like to thank the Edmonton, London and Brantford Police Services for their valuable assistance in this investigation.

Based in locations across the country, INSETs collect, share and analyze information that concerns threats to national security, and of criminal extremism and terrorism. INSETs are made up of representatives of the RCMP, federal partners and agencies, and provincial and municipal police services. As Canada's national law enforcement agency, the RCMP has the primary responsibility for preventing, detecting, denying and responding to national security-related criminal threats in Canada in partnership with intelligence and other law enforcement agencies.

Anyone with information about possible criminal threats to national security is encouraged to immediately call the RCMP's National Security Information Network at 1-800-420-5805.

SOURCE: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

For further information:

Sgt. Richard Rollings
RCMP Media Relations - O Division
416-992-4409