BREAKING: Freedom Convoy arson hoax spread by Canadian media debunked | Post Millennial - Mia Cathell:
March 21, 2022 - "A man has been charged in connection with the Feb. 6 botched arson attempt at an Ottawa apartment complex during the Ottawa Freedom Convoy protests.... Police wrote in a news release on Monday that 'There is no information indicating [the suspect] was involved in any way with the Convoy protest which was going on when this arson took place'....
"There were widespread claims that [the] fire was deliberately set by pro-convoy supporters ... as the Freedom Convoy entered its second week of demonstrations in Ottawa's downtown core.... Apartment resident Matias Muñoz took to Twitter — despite self-proclaimed hesitation on making the 14-tweet Twitter testimony public —to detail the 'facts' after resolving he 'must' disclose what he knows for the community's 'safety.'
"Muñoz said that Sunday evening that the two arsonists brought a full package of firestarter bricks into the building's lobby at approximately 5 am. Two male suspects, who then began lighting the fire-starting material, were captured in screengrabs of security footage that Muñoz posted online. Muñoz was quick to emphasize just two tweets into the detailed social media disclosure that the apartment building, which he stressed is old and has wood paneling on the complex's walls, resides 'at the epicentre of the convoy protests.' A suspect taped the door handles so no one could get in or out, Muñoz said....
"As the package fire was being lit, a tenant walked by the scene unfolding and 'nervously' asked who the pair of suspects were. One of the men allegedly admitted to being part of the Freedom Convoy protests, Muñoz claimed. The resident entered the elevator and the suspects continued to ignite the package. Once lit, the fire grew and almost touched the building's wood panel walls. Then the arsonists escaped out of the side door while recovered surveillance video shows the blaze growing, Muñoz said, providing only still images on Twitter.... A good Samaritan was walking by the door outside and saw the fire, Muñoz said. 'Luckily the door opened after some struggle with the taped handles' and he was able to get inside the apartment's lobby to extinguish the flames, he stated.
"'It is clear to us, as residents, that this was a blatant reprisal by protesters,' Muñoz said. 'Not only have they subjected Ottawa residents to widespread harassment, assault, and aggression, but now an attempt to light an entire building on fire'.... Responding to backlash a day later, Muñoz ... doubled down and claimed 'whoever it was that did it I firmly believe it was because of a prevailing sense of lawlessness downtown Ottawa caused by the convoy.' [sic] 'This terror needs to stop now,' Muñoz beseeched.
"Muñoz went on a media tour the next day, telling The Canadian Press that when he came downstairs Sunday morning, he saw that the carpet, as well as the floor, were charred and observed blackened fire-starter bricks strewn across the lobby. 'On top of all that, somebody trying to do something as insidious as taping the door shut so people can't leave if there's a fire in the main lobby — it's terror, is what it is,' Muñoz said to reporters, also describing the audible protests outside. Muñoz called the incident 'a perfect example of the situation that can arise when this kind of lawlessness happens' in a Feb. 7 video interview with Global National.... Muñoz said there was a confrontation between some of the residents and a few anti-vaccine mandate protesters outside just hours before the fire, CBC News reported....
"During a virtual press conference, Ottawa Deputy Police Chief Steve Bell confirmed the following Tuesday that authorities don't have any direct connection whatsoever between the early morning arson and the Freedom Convoy protesters. 'Is there any reason to believe there is a connection with the trucker protests...?' Globe and Mail political reporter Kristy Kirkup asked Bell at the Feb. 8 presser.... 'Although we don't have any direct linkage between the occupation — the demonstrators — and that act,' Bell established while speaking with reporters remotely, 'the community is at a heightened risk because of those activities'....
"Ottawa mayor Jim Watson condemned the alleged arson at a special council meeting that Monday afternoon, blaming the incident on the then-ongoing pro-medical freedom rally.... 'Yesterday we learned of a horrific story that clearly demonstrates the malicious intent of these protesters occupying our city,' Watson stated on Feb. 7. 'Thankfully no one was hurt, but this story could have ended very, very differently. It's extremely disturbing, and points to a desire to harm our residents.' Watson had declared a state of emergency that Sunday over the Freedom Convoy's presence, arguing that the declaration 'reflects the serious danger and threat to the safety and security of residents posed by the ongoing demonstrations.'
Read more: https://thepostmillennial.com/freedom-convoy-arson-hoax-spread-canadian-media-debunked
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