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The three are accused of attacking a passing Blue Line Taxi and smashing the rear window as it drove past the protesters and accelerated away. The assault was captured on camera by another passerby and posted on YouTube.

Of the three men, two are related to Abed Madi, president of Unifor’s local representing Airport Taxi drivers, according to multiple sources. Albert Madi, Abed’s brother, and Jalal Madi, Abed’s son, both turned themselves in to police Thursday.

On Friday, Abed Madi refused to answer questions about the two or their actions.

“I don’t have any comments to make,” he said. “The courts are doing their job.”

Madi has been steadfast in denouncing the attack, telling the Citizen on Tuesday that it was a desperate measure.

The courtroom filled with more than 30 other drivers wearing red “Unifor” T-shirts and hats. Unifor is the union that represents the cab drivers. None of the cab drivers would comment on the proceedings; all simply said that they were there to support the accused. Many were the same drivers who have been protesting at the airport for the past four weeks.

“This is not something we want to happen, but people are frustrated,” Madi said at the time. “They’ve been out of work for nearly four weeks and nobody seems to care about them.”

Amrik Sing, president of Unifor Local 1688, which represents some 1,800 Ottawa cab drivers, did not return calls on Friday seeking comment on the incident or the involvement of relatives of a union executive member. Stewart Laidlaw, national representative for Unifor, also did not return calls.

The lawyer for Ali Abdullah Monahi said his client is prepared to defend himself in court.

“My client is a family man who has never been involved with the police before,” said Howard L. Krongold, a criminal law specialist at Abergel Goldstein and Partners. “He looks forward to vigorously defending the charges.”

With files from Shaamini Yogaretnam