Explosives charge laid against Toronto man in G-20-related investigation

Man arrested on explosives charge ahead of G-20

TORONTO — A Toronto man was charged Wednesday with possession of explosives in what police are calling a Group of 20 summit-related arrest.

Officers armed with a search warrant went to a million-dollar-plus home in a wealthy neighborhood in Toronto’s north end and charged Byron Sonne, 37, with several offenses, including possession of explosives, dangerous weapons, intimidating a justice system participant and mischief, police said in a statement.

Sonne made two brief court appearances Wednesday. A thin, white man with a receding hairline, he was clad in a black T-shirt. Sonne winked at the media as he left the courtroom in custody. His bail hearing was put off until Saturday.

An automatic publication ban was placed on the case after his lawyer requested it.

Police spokesman Jillian Van Acker declined to release more details, but police said the investigation is part of the ongoing effort to ensure a safe and secure G-20 Summit in Toronto this weekend. The G-20 groups the leaders from 19 leading rich and developing nations and the European Union.

A LinkedIn profile for a Byron Sonne living in Toronto says he specializes in computer and network security and is a licensed private investigator.

Jesse Hirsh, an internet activist and contributor to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., said Sonne told a May meeting of activists and professors that he planned to monitor police chatter about the G-20 summit and post it on Twitter. He also said he would buy items online to attract police attention.

“He was trying to essentially provoke a response,” Hirsh said. Hirsh said Sonne wanted the public to know “the extent to which the $1 billion plus security bill was being spent here,” Hirsh said.

Hirsh said Sonne didn’t say anything about explosives or weapons.

Defense lawyer Kevin Tilley said he could say little about the investigation and he has little information about the allegations.

“He is very concerned about these allegations. He is looking forward to clearing them up in the future,” Tilley said.

Hacklab.to, a Web site that calls itself Toronto’s hacker collective, posted that one of its members has been arrested on a number of charges related to the G-20.

“Byron is innocent until proven guilty, and as a member of the lab and a friend we are concerned for him,” the statement said.