Calgary YouTuber Charged With Uttering Threat Against Prime Minister

The Calgary Police Service has charged a 31-year-old man after he allegedly made a threat to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s life.

The federal RCMP’s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) launched an investigation after receiving a tip about a YouTube account that posted a threat aimed at Carney, RCMP said in a Sept. 15 news release.

INSET, with the assistance of the Calgary Police Service, arrested and charged Jamie Dacosta with uttering a threat against the prime minister of Canada, contrary to section 264.1(1)(a) of the Criminal Code, police said.

Dacosta appeared in the Alberta Court of Justice in Calgary on Sept. 15, but the matter was put over until Sept. 18.

Dacosta goes by “Jamie Costa” on his YouTube channel, which has around 150,000 subscribers.

Police said security continues to be a concern for public figures within Canada and abroad, and that “this is a time for increased vigilance.”

“RCMP Federal Policing is mandated to investigate criminal offences arising from terrorism, espionage, cyber attacks, nuclear security risks, foreign-influenced activities, incidents involving the security of an Internationally Protected Person (IPPs), the unlawful release of national security information and terrorist financing,” the RCMP said.

“As part of its protective mandate, the RCMP is responsible for safeguarding designated Canadians and select foreign diplomatic personnel residing in Canada, as per Article 22 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, as well as visiting IPPs.”

The RCMP added that as the investigation is ongoing and before the courts, it will not provide any further comments.