Latest news with #threats
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Americans don't understand why Canadians are angry with Trump, Holt says
Speaking from the three-day first ministers' summit in Ontario, Premier Susan Holt said Americans don't understand the seriousness of President Donald Trump's threats against Canada's sovereignty.
CBC
3 hours ago
- Politics
- CBC
Alberta byelection candidates reported 'potentially threatening' comments: RCMP
Social Sharing Several candidates contesting next month's byelection in Battle River-Crowfoot have reported receiving negative and sometimes "potentially threatening commentary" on social media platforms in recent days, according to RCMP. "While Canadians are entitled to express their opinions, even those critical of political figures, threats or comments that cross the line into criminal conduct will be taken seriously," RCMP wrote in a statement. Independent candidate Sarah Spanier is one of more than 150 candidates contesting the riding alongside Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, who is running in the riding to regain a seat in the House of Commons. But Spanier said she's put a pause on knocking on doors for the time being, citing a barrage of hostile comments she's received over the course of her campaign. "I had people who were telling me that I'm going to regret it, and my family's going to regret it," Spanier said. "Then it slowly started to escalate into, 'If you come here, you're going to regret it.'" The rhetoric got "even more aggressive," in Spanier's view, after she started to speak about her support of transgender people. "The comments I received were just vile, and not exactly something that you can say on TV or radio," she said. Spanier shared screenshots with CBC News of various social media comments. One user posted that "[Spanier is] an ignorant pig and I pray [she gets] destroyed," while another wrote "come to my door they will regret it." Another charged Spanier with attempting to "sabotage" Poilievre. Of the more than 150 candidates running against Poilievre, most are electoral reform advocates known as the Longest Ballot Committee. Spanier is not a part of that committee. Poilievre and other candidates have pushed back against the committee, with Poilievre referring to it as the "longest ballot scam." 'The age of the keyboard warrior' Not all candidates share Spanier's concerns. Bonnie Critchley, another independent candidate running in the riding, released a video on TikTok responding to media reports about threats in the riding. "It's honestly just not a thing … Are people saying mean things about me online? Well yeah, it is the age of the keyboard warrior," Critchley said. "But there's been no death threats." Spanier took issue with the video. "She [Critchley] put forth a video basically saying without saying that I am being overdramatic about this," Spanier said. "This isn't something new that I've just started talking about. This has been on my radar for months now." In a statement to CBC News, Critchley's campaign wrote that "online comments are not the same as threats." "Democracy includes disagreement. We welcome respectful discussion, that's how real progress happens," the statement reads. Spanier said she believes this issue is taking place across the country as part of every election. "Just because it's not happening for you doesn't mean it's not happening," she said. "I just hope people take this seriously." Other candidates react In its Monday statement, the RCMP added that threatening comments made online can be offences under the Criminal Code, which prohibits uttering threats to cause bodily harm, death or damage to property. "Individuals found making such threats may be subject to investigation and could face criminal charges," the statement reads. Michael Harris, a Libertarian candidate in the same race, told CBC News he hasn't received direct threats himself. "I've had a few Longest Ballot Committee candidates spam my DMs on social media after my statement on them went live," he wrote in an email. "Still, I don't really mind. I believe in freedom of speech. Even if it's annoying. As long as it doesn't cross the line into harassment or threats, people have the right to voice their opinions." Jayson Cowan, a candidate in Battle River-Crowfoot affiliated with the Longest Ballot Committee, said he had received some aggressive blowback on social media platforms during the campaign, specifically on X. "I could understand why to some that would be very scary. But I am not easily scared. I'm welcoming every single debate, every single interaction," he said. Still, he said some forms of blowback, such as sharing people's personal address online, steps over the line. Federal byelection called for Aug. 18 in Alberta's Battle River–Crowfoot riding 22 days ago Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a federal byelection will be held in the Alberta riding of Battle River–Crowfoot on Aug. 18, setting the stage for Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's potential return to the House of Commons. Darcy Spady, the Liberal candidate in the byelection, wrote in a post on Facebook that it was wrong that Spanier had to put door-knocking on pause after receiving threats. "No one should ever feel unsafe participating in our democracy. I applaud Sarah for putting her name forward to serve, and I hope we can send a clear message: threats and violence have no place here in Battle River-Crowfoot," Spady wrote. A spokesperson for Poilievre didn't respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. The byelection is scheduled for Aug. 18.
CBC
5 hours ago
- Politics
- CBC
Americans don't understand why Canadians are angry with Trump, Holt says
Speaking from the three-day first ministers' summit in Ontario, Premier Susan Holt said Americans don't understand the seriousness of President Donald Trump's threats against Canada's sovereignty.
Fox News
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
ICE director slams 'disgusting, completely unhinged' posts by Ohio man who allegedly threatened to kill agents
NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! ICE's acting director is speaking out against an Ohio man who is facing federal charges for making "multiple threats online to shoot and kill ICE officers," calling his alleged posts "disgusting and completely unhinged." Anthony Kelly, 38, of Cincinnati, wrote "#RevolutionIsTheSolution #DestroyICE they're rabid dogs that need to be put down. Including #KristiNoem" in one of his alleged social media posts, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced Tuesday. "Let me be crystal clear: Threatening to kill a federal officer is not protest — it's terrorism," acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said in a statement. "Anthony Kelly's violent threats, while disgusting and completely unhinged, are a symptom of a larger problem: Politicians are trying to turn our law enforcement officials into targets by scaring their constituents and whipping them into a frenzy in a fact-free vacuum. "This is what happens when anti-ICE activists don't realize or care that we're out there arresting rapists, murderers and child molesters who are in this country illegally. Enough is enough. Anyone who targets ICE personnel will be met with swift, unrelenting justice," he added. MAN BUSTED WITH ANTI-GOVERNMENT, ANTI-TRUMP DOCUMENTS AFTER TEXAS ICE AMBUSH SUSPECT PHONE CALL, FEDS SAY ICE said its Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI arrested Kelly on July 19. He was federally charged with threatening to assault, kidnap or murder a United States official, as well as transmitting communications containing threats to kidnap or injure another person. "Law enforcement became aware of a social media user going by the name of 'Slab' after he allegedly made multiple social media posts calling for the killing of ICE officers and detailing his acquisition of firearms to carry out that threat," ICE added. "After an investigation, the user making these posts was identified as Kelly, who lives in the Cincinnati area." MORE DETAILS REVEALED ON SUSPECTS IN INDEPENDENCE DAY ICE ATTACK IN TEXAS The agency said in one post, Kelly allegedly wrote "Why even bother with these d--- courts anymore. #Gestapedos don't deserve anything but the smoke coming for them anyway." "You come here for me, you're getting shot. And I'm not looking to disable […] I'm shooting for the kill. I won't give a **** about your names, who you are, or anything else," he reportedly said in another. Kelly now remains in custody pending federal court proceedings. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "Calling for violence against federal law enforcement is not protected by the First Amendment," HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey said. "At great personal risk, ICE agents and officers faithfully enforce laws passed by our representatives in Congress. If members of the public disagree with our nation's laws, they need to write their representatives, not threaten violence against those charged with carrying out the law."
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Moment scammer posing as O2 employee makes threats to kill and torture woman who confronted him
A phone scammer threatened to 'sexy' torture and then kill a woman after she confronted him about pretending to be an O2 employee. Zoe Duncan, 24, who had worked for the telecommunications provider quickly realised the call was a scam when the con man asked for her name. The musician confronted the caller, who responded with aggressive threats to torture, go to her house and kill her. 'I will kill you,' he told Ms Duncan. 'But before I kill you, first I torture you,' the scammer added. 'It should be sexy torture.' Throughout the threats Ms Duncan can be heard laughing and even taunting him, at one point suggesting he bring some biscuits when he shows up. Ms Duncan said: 'It was definitely an odd experience. 'I've never had that happen before but I guess this guy woke up on the wrong side of the bed that day. Throughout the threats Ms Duncan can be heard laughing and even taunting him, at one point suggesting he bring some biscuits when he shows up 'I felt comfortable laughing it off because I knew I had given them zero information to be able to actually find me. 'But it definitely made me feel concerned that another person would have believed the scam, especially with the text from O2.' The conversation continued, with Ms Duncan even pretending to be a man at a certain point, but the scammer just kept talking - she eventually ended the call. Ms Duncan added: 'I realised at a certain point that I wasn't going to get him off the phone so I just hung up. 'The phone call took some weird turns, but I feel like scammers like this don't get called out nearly as much as they should. 'They can cause some real harm.' Ms Duncan explained that because of her previous experience working as a part-time retail assistant for O2 she knew it was scam. If O2 were to call, they would already have her basic information so asking for her name was a red flag. Ms Duncan said: 'The initial reason for the call was that all the O2 sims were about to be cut off and they needed to send me a new one. 'They managed to get O2 to send a text to me with a verification code, which is the part I think most people would fall for. 'What they will have done is tried to login to my account on the O2 app, which would have sent the code to me. 'They would then get me to tell them the code, which the text tells you you're not supposed to do, so they could hack into my account. 'Luckily, I knew to not give that over and they were unable to successfully get into my account and scam me.'
