B.C. RCMP establish twin brothers as Saanich financial institution taking pictures suspects

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Twin brothers of their early 20s have been liable for the taking pictures that injured quite a few law enforcement officials at a financial institution in Saanich earlier this week, RCMP alleged Saturday.

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RCMP spokesman Cpl. Alex Berube recognized the boys as 22-year-olds Mathew and Isaac Auchterlonie from the town of Duncan on southern Vancouver Island.

The brothers attended Frances Kelsey Secondary Faculty in Mill Bay, in accordance with a former classmate, who requested Postmedia to stay nameless.

“Isaac and his brother largely stored to themselves” throughout highschool hours, the previous classmate stated. “They by no means appeared to hang around with anyone else however one another.”

A Reddit person shared what gave the impression to be an Instagram account of one of many brothers, Isaac, describing himself as a “WW2 Pacific Struggle fanatic.”

The now-deleted account options images of assault rifles and ammunition, in addition to hashtags in opposition to vaccine mandates and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The account additionally reposted messages from a nationwide gun foyer group, the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights.

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A video posted on the account reveals a letter from the Canadian Firearms Program saying Ottawa’s resolution on Could 1, 2020, to reclassify a lot of firearms as prohibited. On the letter, somebody has written the phrases “hold firearms and don’t give up.” The letter is then tossed into a hearth.

Six officers have been shot and the brothers have been killed within the shootout with police on Tuesday outdoors the Financial institution of Montreal department.

Berube stated officers have spoken with the twins’ kin, who’re co-operating with the investigation.

Investigators are trying into the suspects’ backgrounds, and he stated neither man had a prison document or was identified to police.

“We perceive that the discharge of the names of the 2 deceased might reply the who, however there are nonetheless many excellent questions and investigation efforts that have to happen with a view to absolutely perceive what came about and why,” Berube advised a information convention.

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“The motive behind the armed theft and subsequent alternate of gunfire with police has not but been decided.”

Police have additionally confirmed that the twins are related to a white four-door 1992 Toyota Camry that has two black racing stripes over the hood and roof, Berube stated. The automobile was discovered with a number of explosives, which have been eliminated and destroyed final week

Berube stated the investigation has thus far decided that there have been solely two suspects within the financial institution.

“Nonetheless, we’re persevering with to look into whether or not anybody else was concerned or related to the occasions on Tuesday.”

An replace on the situation of the injured officers wasn’t given.

Earlier, Saanich Chief Const. Dean Duthie had stated three of the officers stay in hospital, together with one who’s in intensive care whereas one other would require extra surgical procedures.

—with information from Sarah Grochowski