The latest international intelligence data suggests extremists bent on fomenting G-8 chaos are on their way to Calgary and may have already arrived, Mayor David Bronconnier said yesterday.
Bronconnier said information from a variety of sources, possibly including the CIA and FBI, state violent groups the mayor referred to as 'anarchists' could now be in the city preparing to disrupt the June 26-27 gathering.
"It's fair to say there are groups known to intelligence agencies en route to Calgary and may be here already ... we are taking extraordinary (security) precautions," Bronconnier told the Sun editorial board.
"They're coming here for a reason and it's not to participate in the tourist industry -- they want to make headlines and they don't care about the reputation of this city."
As a result, Calgarians can expect some parts of downtown to be fenced off for security purposes, much as it was during the World Petroleum Congress in 2000.
"The majority of the downtown will be business as usual but some areas, depending on intelligence in some areas ... there could be two layers of fencing with police in the middle," said Bronconnier.
And the first airlifts of military equipment -- some from the U.S. -- are expected to arrive in Calgary at any time, said the mayor.
"There'll be a large, logistical mobilization of men and equipment to ensure the city is prepared for any kind of situation," he said.
Bronconnier spoke of wielding the power to declare a local state of emergency if necessary after consulting with experts "though I don't expect it to come to that."
But he warned Calgarians not be lulled into a state of complacency and to do their part to add to the city's security.
"It's a heads-up, to say 'this is serious, look out for what's going on in the next few weeks,'" he said.
An activist veteran of several protests that have degenerated into violence accused Bronconnier of preparing to suspend Calgarians' freedoms for no reason.
"It's unfortunate -- it's the security forces that make the city uninhabitable for the citizens, not the protesters," said Sarah Dover of the Legal Collective.
"He makes it sound like the blob is coming and everyone should hide in their homes."
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