Canada Covid protesters cleared of plotting to kill police

Two Canadian men accused of conspiring to murder police during protests over Covid-19 measures have been found not guilty.

Anthony Olienick and Chris Carbert were charged after guns, body armour and ammunition were found at a border blockade in Alberta province.

The blockade in the village of Coutts was part of "Freedom Convoy" protests that broke out in Canada in early 2022.

Prosecutors had argued that the men planned to start a revolution and commit violence against Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers.

While the jury found them not guilty over the alleged murder plot, the two were convicted on other charges including possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

Mr Olienick was also convicted of possessing a pipe bomb.

Their lawyers argued that the two were worried about losing their freedoms but had no violent intent.

The Coutts blockade tied up traffic for two weeks at a section of the border between Alberta and the US state of Montana.

It was part of a series of demonstrations inspired by the Freedom Convoy truck protest in Ottawa over Covid-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates.

Some 400 trucks and other vehicles descended on Canada’s capital and blockaded streets for three weeks in early 2022.

Another US-Canada border point between Ontario and Michigan was blocked.

The truck protest ended when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act - the first time the law has been used. It allowed police to clear the streets and freeze the bank accounts of protesters.

Around the same time, RCMP officers moved in on the Coutts blockade. They arrested 13 people and seized weapons including guns, a machete and high capacity magazines.

More weapons, ammunition and pipe bombs were later found at Mr Olienick's home.

Police initially charged four people in connection with the blockade, including Mr Olienick and Mr Carbert. The two others pleaded guilty to lesser charges early this year.

During the trial, jurors heard from undercover officers who said Mr Olienick had told them he considered police pawns of “devil” Mr Trudeau and that he had threatened to “slit their throats” if they stormed the blockade.

A lawyer for Mr Olienick argued that he was ensnared by a female undercover officer who flirted with him to get information - something police denied.

Other people charged over the Freedom Convoy protests include Pat King, an organiser of the Ottawa protest whose trial ended last week. A decision is expected in October.

Separately, protest leaders Tamara Lich and Chris Barber are facing trial together in connection with the disturbances in Ottawa. They have pleased not guilty of mischief and intimidation.