Interesting news: Canadian meeting

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Interesting if you serve as an attendant in your congregation!

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20020904/wl_canada_nm/canada_crime_church_col_2

Sword-Wielding Bandit Foiled in Canadian Church [Kingdom Hall]  Wed Sep 4,

2:47 PM ET

EDMONTON, Alberta (Reuters) - A crudely disguised man wielding a Samurai

sword burst into a Canadian Jehovah's Witness church and tried to rob 65

congregation members before he was foiled by one who used his cell phone

to alert police, authorities said on Wednesday.

Police responded quickly and arrested the man after convincing him to

drop the 65 centimeter (two foot) blade in the incident late Tuesday at a

northeast Edmonton Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall, police spokesman Dean

Parthenis said.

Officers also recovered a kitchen knife and a medieval-style mace from

the 41-year-old suspect, who was dressed in a trenchcoat, a mask

fashioned out of bandages, sunglasses and rubber gloves.

"I'm not sure if it was a meeting or a prayer ceremony taking place, but

he just interrupted and made it quite clear he was looking for money and

bank cards, and he had that sword," Parthenis said.

"Obviously he was quite intimidating and people inside there were quite

shocked."

Quick thinking by the congregation member with the cellular phone allowed

police in four cruisers to get to the hall and collar the man before he

fled with any money, he said.

The man has been charged with robbery, wearing a disguise with intent,

possession of an offensive weapon, carrying a concealed weapon and

possession of a prohibited weapon.