Common-law wife of man arrested on explosives charge charged in G-20-related investigation

Woman arrested on explosives charge ahead of G-20

TORONTO — The common-law wife of a man charged with possession of explosives in what police are calling a Group of 20 summit-related arrest has also been charged in the investigation.

Police spokeswoman Jillian Van Acker said Thursday that Kristen Peterson, 37, has been charged with possession of an explosive device and possession of a weapon. She was due in court later Thursday.

Peterson’s partner, computer security expert Byron Sonne, was charged Wednesday with several offenses, including possession of explosives, dangerous weapons and intimidating a justice system participant.

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.

Officers armed with a search warrant went to the couple’s million-dollar-plus home in a wealthy neighborhood in Toronto’s north end on Tuesday. They charged Sonne and have now charged Peterson after searching two cottage homes in rural Ontario.

Van Acker said she couldn’t say what the explosives are but said there is no risk to public safety. Police have 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.

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 his case after his lawyer requested it.

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

Hirsh said Sonne didn’t say anything about explosives or weapons, but said he was trying to provoke a response from police. Hirsh said Sonne wanted the public to know the extent to which the $1 billion plus security bill was being spent.

Hirsh said they joked that he was the last guy counterterrorism officials would be prone to investigate.

“We were teasing him that he didn’t fit the terror profile and as a result might be ignored by law enforcement. Clearly we were wrong,” Hirsh said.

Hirsh said Sonne laughed at the jokes.

“He embodies computer geek both in clothes and hairstyle. In all senses of it he’s a true geek. In speaking to some of his friends uber-geek might even be more appropriate,” Hirsh said.

He said Sonne was doing every thing in a very public manner and they thought he was harmless.

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.

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