Police detonate suspected explosives found at Sonne’s former home

TORONTO, Ont. – A second search at the former home of an alleged G20 protester was conducted in Forest Hill, Thursday, after a container believed to hold harmful explosive material was removed from the home Wednesday and was put under a tarp and police guard all night on the Leslie Street Spit.

Police detonated it at the Spit Thursday.

On Wednesday, police descended on the former home Byron Sonne, 39, who was arrested shortly before the G20 summit in 2010.

Twelve police officers – some from the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team – conducted Thursday’s search – a grid search using advanced equipment such as ground penetrating radar – to ensure nothing was left behind. A few police dogs are on the scene as well.

The Emergency Task Force removed the container safely from the property and then transported it to the Leslie Street Spit, Constable Wendy Drummond told 680News.

Several neighbouring homes were evacuated and other residents were told to remain indoors while the bomb squad removed the suspicious device. There were rolling road closures as police transported the container.

Police were reportedly called to a home on Elderwood Drive after evidence presented at Sonne’s trial alluded to ammunition buried in the backyard.

Sonne, 39, is charged with four counts of possessing explosives and one of counselling mischief not committed.

Police arrested him and raided his home in the days leading up to the tumultuous summit in June 2010.

Among other things, they found laboratory apparatus and numerous chemicals — among them fertilizer — the prosecution alleges Sonne intended to combine into explosives.

No actual explosives were found.

Sonne, a self-described security and computer geek, maintains he was trying to expose flaws in the G20 security, and that he had no plans to make bombs out of any of the legal chemicals he had.

He said he had the substances for his rocketry hobby and to make crystals.

Closing submissions ended Monday, and Ontario Superior Court Justice Nancy Spies reserved her decision, which she is to render this month.

Meanwhile, people living along and in the area of Elderwood Drive are being told that while the search is unusual, there is nothing to be concerned about.

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