QAnon-inspired protest leads to special investigation into arrest

Ontario’s civilian police watchdog is investigating the circumstances around an arrest in Peterborough, Ont., on Saturday that resulted in serious injuries during a QAnon-inspired protest, in what has become another example of far-right conspiracy theories having real-life consequences in Canada.

A few dozen people had gathered outside the city’s police station after an appeal from a QAnon conspiracy theorist, who purports to be the “Queen of Canada,” for citizen’s arrests of local officers.

Protester Timothy Claudio said he was taken into custody after he and others sought to place members of the Peterborough Police Service under citizen’s arrest. 

The 55-year-old man, who also attended