The Forest Hill man accused of intending to bomb the G20 summit has been granted bail. His supporters have always maintained his arrest was a misunderstanding.
Sonne, 38, was arrested on TTC bus on June 22, 2010, four days before the G20 summit began. At the time, he was charged with possession of explosives for an unlawful purpose, possession of dangerous weapons, intimidation of a justice system participant, mischief, and attempted mischief. In February, all but the explosive charges were dropped, and one count of counseling to commit mischief was added.
Today he was finally granted bail, although the terms of his release have yet to be decided. According to his supporters’ website freebyron.org, Sonne could go free as early as today will be released on Wednesday.
While the police who arrested Sonne believe he is a dangerous radical, others say he is simply a concerned citizen who tried to test the limits of democracy. The charges relate to Sonne’s online activity in the run up to the summit, and chemicals found in his home. Sonne, who worked as a computer consultant, claims the chemicals were for use in his tech hobbies and for gardening.
Police suspicions were aroused by a series of postings Sonne made before the summit about the supposed weakness of G20 security, and an online library he compiled that included Hitler’s Mein Kampf and guides to building explosives. According to media reports he was interested in exposing the ways security concerns are used as an excuse to track citizens and stifle free speech.
