Jason Devine, left, was beaten in a Calgary home invasion early Monday. His wife, former mayoral candidate Bonnie Devine, called 911 from the bedroom during the attack. ((CBC))
The victims of a home invasion in Calgary early Monday morning are well-known anti-racism activists.
Calgary police said five masked men armed with bats and hammers forced their way into a home in the 5400 block of Eighth Avenue S.E. shortly after 1 a.m.
Police believe the home was targeted for attack, although they haven't confirmed a motive. A neo-Nazi angle is being investigated, police said.
Three adults and four children were in the house at the time.
One of the adults was Jason Devine, who as a member of Anti-Racist Action Calgary has in the past posted pictures of suspected white supremacists on his blog. More recently, he and his wife had put up posters in their neighbourhood "outing" people they claim are neo-Nazis.
Prior to the attack, Devine and a friend were having a drink and talking after a dinner party had wound down and most of the guests had left, Devine said. His children had gone to bed.
'I woke up to screaming and yelling and boots.' — Bonnie Devine
That was when the two heard a crack as someone kicked in the door, Devine said.
"I rushed to grab one of them, to push him back, and then two of them started beating me. They attacked my friend, so then I was laying down on the ground trying to protect myself," Devine recalled.
Devine was beaten about his head, on his back and on his arms. His friend had his arm broken and is still in hospital awaiting surgery.
The third adult was Devine's wife, Bonnie Devine, recently a candidate for mayor in the Calgary civic election. She wasn't injured.
"I woke up to screaming and yelling and boots, I could hear boots coming up the steps," Bonnie said.
Jason Devine received severe back injuries in the attack. ((CBC))
She immediately called 911.
"My reaction was to come out [of the bedroom], but it's a corded phone so I was stuck in there. Jason escaped into our room and barred it with his back."
None of the children were hurt.
By the time police arrived, the invaders had fled in a dark-coloured SUV.
Nothing was stolen in the attack.
No arrests have been made. But police said they are looking to speak with a number of people, including Kyle Robert McKee, a self-proclaimed white supremacist who was charged in connection with a pair of homemade bombs left outside a northeast Calgary apartment last year.
The charges were later dropped.
