Man charged in relation to bombings

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This article was published 05/07/2015 (3749 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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Police charged 49-year-old Guido Amsel late Sunday night with two counts of attempted murder in a series of bombings that have left 38-year-old lawyer Maria Mitousis badly injured in hospital.

Court records show Mitousis represents Amsel’s ex-wife in a lengthy divorce proceeding.

Amsel is also charged with aggravated assault and charges involving the possession of explosives.

Inspector Kelly Dennison said Sunday night that investigators believe that Amsel allegedly targeted his ex-wife and lawyers who have represented both Amsel and his ex-wife.

“Police are concerned that other packages could have been sent out to other legal counsel or justice officials who have dealt with Amsel,” Dennison said.

“Police are asking those individuals to be aware and be diligent in alerting police to any suspicious packages or items that may be addressed to them. The devices that have been discovered have distinct packaging and lettering. Police are imploring extreme caution if any suspicious packages are discovered.”

Police said that the packages were mailed through Canada Post June 29 or 30, and delivered this past Thursday and Friday.

Mitousis was badly injured Friday morning at her law office. A police robot detonated a second explosive device Saturday evening at a Washington Avenue auto shop believed to belong to his ex-wife, and Sunday night, a bomb unit robot detonated a device in the parking lot of a Stradbrook Avenue law firm.

“Investigators believe that the individuals targeted on River Avenue, Washington Avenue, and Stradbrook Street are related,” Dennison said.

The Free Press has learned that the suspect allegedly compiled a list of people he felt had wronged him in life. Sources say an around-the-clock police investigation likely prevented further violence.

“This is good work by police to track him so quickly. There could have been so much more bloodshed,” a justice source familiar with the investigation told the Free Press Sunday. “There was a long list of people with grievances and a plan to ‘take care of them.’ ”

Late Sunday night, police said that, “Police are still present on Washington Avenue and Stradbrook Street where the explosives were discovered. In addition, police continue to search a business on Springfield Road, and a residence on Pandora Avenue East associated to Amsel.”

Police say a suspicious package was detonated inside the Washington business late Saturday by a bomb unit robot using a water cannon. There was extensive damage but no injuries. The man was arrested at his home.

Winnipeg police Supt. Danny Smyth revealed little about the man’s background at a news conference late Sunday afternoon, which came shortly after the Free Press revealed police had a “person of interest” in custody.

Police had been combing through the files of Mitousis, a family law specialist, as part of their extensive probe.

The man in custody was allegedly unhappy with his divorce proceedings, sources said.

The interview with the suspect had been complicated because of language issues, sources said.

Mitousis was rushed to hospital in critical condition after opening a package that contained an explosive device while inside her office in the 200 block of River Avenue. She suffered extensive injuries to her throat and stomach. The Canadian Press, quoting a source, said Mitousis lost one of her hands in the blast.

“There’s going to be enough here for a book or a TV movie of the week,” a justice source said Sunday.

The Free Press obtained an email sent Saturday by a family member of Mitousis to friends and family that provided some good news:

“(Mitousis) is in good spirits and is recovering well. Her surgeries were successful and the results are the best we all could have hoped for given the circumstances. The doctors and staff have been superb. Maria has asked me to express her gratitude for all your well-wishes, prayers and thoughts. She is looking forward to a speedy recovery and looks forward to connecting with you all in the near future,” the email read.

“Our investigators have confirmed a link” between the two explosions, Smyth said earlier Sunday, declining to elaborate.

Investigators talked to Mitousis Saturday in hospital, Smyth said.

“She was able to provide a fair amount of information. I’m not prepared to share that information,” he said. “She has been stabilized; her recovery will take considerable time.”

Smyth said because of the ongoing investigation, police cannot divulge what Mitousis told them. Police were conducting extensive ‘forensic analysis’ of the explosive devices, he said.

Late Sunday afternoon, police were executing search warrants at an unidentified business on Springfield Road and at a home on Pandora Avenue.

The police bomb unit’s robot detonated a device near a Stradbrook Avenue law firm, Orle Bargen Davidson, around 9:40 p.m. Sunday. Police warned onlookers before there was “one single concussive blast.”

A justice source said the man was previously represented by a lawyer from that firm.

“Since Friday, we’ve had 20 reports of suspicious packages,” Smyth said Sunday. “As we proceed, we’ll take the bomb unit in tow with us.”

Neighbours on Washington Avenue reported seeing officers with their guns drawn during Saturday’s raid. Several nearby residents were also asked to evacuate.

One man who lives just north of the autobody shop said police ordered him to leave the area around 4 p.m. Saturday; he was allowed to return around 12:30 a.m. Sunday.

A block south on Jamison Street, Brigitte Ross said police told residents leaving was voluntary but told them to stay indoors.

Police said Mitousis was alone in the offices of the small firm — Petersen King — at the time of the blast, and nearby residents alerted them.

After the blast, police went to the downtown law firm where she had worked until last fall — Monk Goodwin — and workers were removed as a precaution. No devices were found.

Mitousis’s common-law husband, Barry Gorlick, had worked at Monk Goodwin before being disbarred Monday on 15 counts of professional misconduct.

 

— with files/video from Melissa Martin

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca 

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca