Activist group Anonymous vows to avenge Dawson Creek shooting
Online group urges followers on Twitter to protest at RCMP headquarters across the country
A police-involved shooting in Dawson Creek on Thursday has sparked a backlash on Twitter from the online international activist group Anonymous.
Ohai <a href="https://twitter.com/rcmpgrcpolice">@rcmpgrcpolice</a> we would like to report a murder of one of our comrades by some of your officers. Shall we expect justice or cover up?
—@YourAnonNewsAnonymous is vowing to avenge what it calls one of its comrades and is asking its 1.5 million followers to protest at RCMP headquarters in every province.
- IIOBC releases scene of fatal police shooting in Dawson Creek
- Dawson Creek Police shoot man who witness says refused to throw away knife
- Fatal police shooting in Dawson Creek under investigation
Meanwhile new video shot by witness Mike Irmen shows a close up view of the seconds after the victim is brought to the ground by police.
Police won't say if the victim has a connection to Anonymous.
Irmen says the man was shot and killed by officers when he refused to throw away his knife. He continued to clutch the weapon while lying on the ground.
Finally one officer handcuffed the bleeding man and another grabbed a first aid kit from a patrol car, said Irmen. The man was taken to hospital, but died of his injuries.
The Independent Investigations Office of BC quickly took over the case.
Anonymous claims in an online release that the man shot and killed was its fourth member to be slain by security forces around the world in as many years.
Anonymous is now threatening to identify the RCMP officer involved and reveal personal information.
Police say they're aware of Anonymous' tweets and are reviewing them.
The Independent Investigations Office has also taken notice of the social media posts.
Meanwhile the B.C. Coroners Service says it likely won't release the victim's identity until Monday at the earliest.
With files from Jeff Harrington