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Toronto Mayor Rob Ford in video murder rant | Toronto Mayor Rob Ford in video murder rant |
(35 minutes later) | |
Embattled Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is embroiled in fresh controversy over a video which shows him threatening to commit "first-degree murder". | Embattled Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is embroiled in fresh controversy over a video which shows him threatening to commit "first-degree murder". |
As he resists calls to quit following his admission this week that he had smoked crack cocaine, Toronto media released a clip of the mayor in a rage. | |
Mr Ford is shown gesticulating during a foul-mouthed rant in which he threatens to kill an unknown person. | |
He apologised for the video, saying he was "extremely, extremely inebriated". | He apologised for the video, saying he was "extremely, extremely inebriated". |
The latest footage looks as though it was secretly filmed on a mobile phone. | |
An agitated Mr Ford paces a room while blowing off steam to people who cannot be seen. | |
'Extremely embarrassing' | |
The context of the clip is not clear, nor is the target of Mr Ford's wrath. | |
He turns the air blue as he vows in a raised voice to rip out the person's throat, poke out his eyes and ensure his victim is dead. | |
"No hold barred, brother," Mr Ford says in the clip. "He dies or I die." | |
He appears to be upset at someone who has called him and his brothers "liars, thieves". | |
At one point an off-camera voice appears to egg on Mr Ford, saying: "Mike Tyson!" | |
After viewing the clip outside his office on Thursday, the 44-year-old Mr Ford told reporters: "It's extremely embarrassing and I don't know what to say." | |
"I hope none of you have ever or will ever be in that state," the mayor told members of the media. | |
"The whole world is going to see it," he added of the clip. | |
Drink problem | |
Allegations of drug use by Mr Ford surfaced in May when journalists reported seeing footage of him smoking crack cocaine. | |
After months of ducking the question, Mr Ford acknowledged on Tuesday for the first time that he had taken the drug "probably a year ago" while in a "drunken stupor". | After months of ducking the question, Mr Ford acknowledged on Tuesday for the first time that he had taken the drug "probably a year ago" while in a "drunken stupor". |
He said he was "embarrassed" by his behaviour, but vowed to run for re-election. | He said he was "embarrassed" by his behaviour, but vowed to run for re-election. |
The mayor has not been charged, but city police chief Bill Blair has said authorities are in possession of the video which apparently shows Mr Ford smoking crack. | |
On Sunday, Mr Ford admitted on his radio show for the first time that he had a drinking problem. | |
He acknowledged he had been "hammered" at a street festival in August and "out of control" drunk at city hall during St Patrick's Day celebrations last year. | |
Mr Ford's allies on the city council say they have lost confidence in him. | Mr Ford's allies on the city council say they have lost confidence in him. |
But officials in Canada's largest city cannot legally remove the mayor of North America's fourth largest city unless he is convicted of a crime. | |
City Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong, a member of Ford's executive committee, said on Thursday he would amend a motion he has filed requesting that Mr Ford take a leave of absence. | |
The measure would ask Ontario province to pass a law to remove the mayor from office, an unprecedented step. | |
"Quite frankly extraordinary measures are needed in extraordinary times," Councillor Minnan-Wong said. | |
"This situation is deteriorating, it's not going away." | |
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne has expressed concern about Mr Ford's personal issues, but she stopped short of calling on him to stand aside. | Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne has expressed concern about Mr Ford's personal issues, but she stopped short of calling on him to stand aside. |