Anarchists target official bank of Vancouver Olympics

Anarchists are targeting the 2010 Winter Olympics official bank with a campaign of vandalism.

A "small group of anarchists" damaged windows of the Royal Bank of Canada branch at Hastings and Nanaimo with "fist-sized stones" on Sept. 29, according to an anonymous message on no2010.com. "Exceptionally large pieces of pavement" were hurled through windows on Dec. 8 at the Commercial and First branch, according to an anonymous posting on the U.S. anarchist blog infoshop.org.

Both messages contained seething opposition to the 2010 Games and capitalism in general. The newest posting listed 12 Vancouver branches and one in North Vancouver as targets for future vandalism.

"A gold medal will be given for the most damage at a single location," said the message.

RBC spokesman John Groves confirmed yesterday that the night-time incidents took place, as described on the blogs.

"We certainly respect the right of people to express their opinions as long as it's done in a peaceful, respectful manner," Groves said. "We'd like all our clients and all people who visit RBC branches to feel safe and we're going to do everything we can to ensure that they do."

Groves said the incidents were reported yesterday to Vancouver Police. In 2005, RBC pledged $110 million in cash and services to become VANOC's official bank.