RCMP aware of Facebook posts that threaten Alberta premier

RCMP say they are aware of threatening comments made online against Premier Rachel Notley, but they won't confirm whether they've launched an investigation.

The posts showed up on at least two anti-NDPFacebook sites.

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Barbara Starr,moderator of one of the websites calledOut the NDP in Alberta,posted,"We can take over the government, we just need the wild to back us."

In response a man posted, "Or a lone gunman,"adding, "Not condoning that. Just saying bad things happen to bad leaders."

In another post the premier is warned to be careful or"you'll be the first assassination in Alberta."

Anotherwrites:"I'm not advocating for violence against you yet but keep talking like that and someone will take matters in their own hands."

Other posts are hateful andvulgar.

Insp.GibsonGlavinsaid the RCMP are aware of the posts.

"Our first concern right away was to ensure the premier's security detail was aware of what we were seeing," he said.

He would not sayif RCMP areinvestigating the posts as uttering threats. One of the grounds that caninvite an investigation is if the target of a threat becomesfearful.

"If there is a reasonable likelihoodthat the person receiving that threat should take it seriously, then that is atype of thing that could be considered to fall inthe criminal realm."

Notleydownplayed thethreats made against her when asked about them Tuesday, shortly after one of the web sites that posted them was taken down.

Notley said she has a security unit that monitors those kind of situations.

"And I'm told that none of what has occurred thus far with me is in any way shape or form out of the ordinary," Notley said. "And so I rely on them (security)to do their job, and I'm very confident that that's what's happening."

NeilLeMay, asecurity consultant who has provided security for former Alberta premiers, said the postsdeserve to beinvestigatedby the police.

"They're totally inappropriate for starters," he said."They can also be criminal offences.

"Imean even though it's on awebsite, Ithink it's important that these sorts of things be investigated further and just find out what the intentions and thoughts are of these individuals."

However,LeMaycautions that postingthreats is a far cry from acting them out.

"In my experience ... those that beak off those who publish their threats for all to hearare probably the least likely to carry them through."

Starr toldCBC the post about the gunman comment was not a threat, but part of larger exchange writtenin jest,somebody venting.

"It was a bunch of us joking," she said, adding she believesNDP and Liberal supportersposted messages on other pages to stir up controversy.

The CBC sought comment from themoderator of another site, AlbertansAgainst the NDP. An anonymous emailsent in response saidthreateningcontent is not condoned and inappropriate users are banned.

But just before noon, the website was pulled down.