His name is Thorarinn Jonsson, and he's a student at the
Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) on McCaul St. He also says he's something else - the man behind a bomb hoax that shut down an AIDS fundraiser at the
Royal Ontario Museum and a busy section of Bloor St. West on Wednesday night. The prank cost
CANFAR, the Canadian Foundation for Aids Research, at least $100,000.
Jonsson admits he didn't expect the reaction his school project engendered and he didn't know anything about the charity event going on near the laneway where his "art" was hidden. It consisted of a device that resembled a real bomb, with wires and a circuit board, stuffed into an LCBO bag. It was accompanied by a note that read "this is not a bomb." But authorities couldn't take any chances.
The 25-year-old remains relatively unrepentant about an escapade that also cost police hours of their valuable time and an equal amount in rustling up the necessary experts and equipment to defuse the phony explosive.
"I expected the police to immediately realize what they were dealing with," he claims. Two videos surrounding the hoax were posted on YouTube,
one here, the
other here. One shows a girl going through the ROM when an apparent explosion takes place. Jonsonn calls it part of his final assignment for the school.
"I'm taking something that's clearly a sculpture. It's clearly not a bomb. But by taking it out of context and putting it into another context, by leaving it lying around ... it suddenly takes on a different meaning."
Does he feel bad about the effect it had? "I think the piece is pretty important ... Police waste their time all the time doing all kinds of things."
OCAD's president is embarrassed by the scare and has issued an immediate apology. "OCAD is very regretful about this incident," confirms Sara Diamond. "We think it is very grave. We're very shocked at the impact it's had on the Royal Ontario Museum."
Jonsson maintains he didn't know about the fundraiser and feels bad that it was disrupted. "I feel awful. I planted it hours before. The most I expected was maybe the museum would be closed a little bit early or something like that, but I had no idea the fundraiser was going on that night." He claims he would have chosen a different day had he known - but he still would have proceeded with the project.
That does little to placate CANFAR reps, who planned the gala soiree for months. "To say an apology is insufficient in my opinion," replies Elyssa Beckett. "It's quite upsetting. It is a huge number of people, hundreds and hundreds of volunteers and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of donations that go into making this."
Jonsson's response? "Needless to say I think it was a crazed overreaction and I think it's a shame that all these resources went into it." Does he blame himself? "No," he answers without much hesitation. "I put it on the situation."
Jonsson and two OCAD teachers have now been suspended as a result of the hoax, even though it appears the instructors didn't authorize the project. As for the student who started it all, he turned himself over to police at 52 Division on Thursday night at around 8pm. He's been charged with Common Nuisance, and Mischief Interfere With Property, and will make a court appearance on Friday.
click here.To find out how to help CANFAR recoup its losses,
click here.
OCAD Statement
"It has been brought to our attention that a student of the Ontario College of Art & Design (OCAD) may have been involved in an incident that occurred at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) last evening in which a bomb threat hoax caused the evacuation of the building and the cancellation of a major fundraising event by the Canadian Foundation for Aids Research (CANFAR).
"This incident at the ROM was totally unacceptable and is in no way condoned by OCAD. The university has taken this matter very seriously and is conducting a full and thorough investigation in cooperation with the police. The incident at the ROM was not part of any OCAD assignment or course. The student involved has been suspended from the university.
"The faculty involved have been fully cooperative and have been suspended with pay pending the outcome of the investigation.
On learning of the possible involvement of an OCAD student in the ROM incident, the President of OCAD, Sara Diamond, immediately contacted both the ROM and CANFAR to express OCAD's deep concern and offer apologies on behalf of the institution."