Friday, June 12, 2026
ADVT 
National

Canada Must Guard Against Terrorism: PM Harper

IANS, 24 Jun, 2015 12:56 PM
    Canada is not immune to the threat of terrorism and so "continued vigilance is essential", Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said.
     
    Harper made the remarks on Tuesday while laying a wreath in the Hall of Honour to mark the "National day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism" observed to honour those killed in the 1985 Air India bombing.
     
    An Air India flight flying from Toronto to London crashed off the coast of Ireland on June 23, 1985, killing all 329 people on board. Most of the dead were Canadians of Indian origin. 
     
    Sikh extremists were blamed for the bombing.
     
    Harper said he cannot "help but cast his mind back to the Canadians who perished in Air India Flight 182 and in the World Trade Centre attacks... and to the many terrorist activities foiled by the vigilance of Canadian security agencies.
     
    "The recollections serve as a reminder that Canada is not immune to the threat of terrorism and that continued vigilance is essential."
     
    Addressing a gathering in parliament building here, he said it was a terror attack that killed the 329 passengers and crew members aboard Air India. 
     
    "On this sombre anniversary, we stand in solidarity with the friends and families who lost loved ones in that heinous attack and honour those lost.
     
    "We were deeply moved by this solemn tribute as well as by our meeting the kin of the victims," he added.
     
    Among the kin of the victims present was Susheel Gupta, whose mother Ramvati died in the bombing. Gupta said he regretted that his children would not be able to meet their grandmother.
     
    Meanwhile, a memorial service in Ireland was attended by India's Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh, Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan and Canadian Minister of Justice Peter MacKay.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Crash At Georgia Viaduct Snarls Traffic, Shuts Off Power To Thousands Of Vancouver Homes

    Crash At Georgia Viaduct Snarls Traffic, Shuts Off Power To Thousands Of Vancouver Homes
    VANCOUVER — A single-vehicle crash in Vancouver snarled traffic and cut power to thousands of homes on Saturday evening. Vancouver Police say a car travelling eastbound on the Georgia Viaduct lost control just before 5 p.m.

    Crash At Georgia Viaduct Snarls Traffic, Shuts Off Power To Thousands Of Vancouver Homes

    Mother Dies, Seven-month-old Son Critical After Being Pulled From Frigid B.C. River

    Mother Dies, Seven-month-old Son Critical After Being Pulled From Frigid B.C. River
    COURTENAY, B.C. — A dramatic rescue effort to pull a woman and her infant son from a frigid Vancouver Island river has ended in tragedy, as the 26-year-old mother has died.

    Mother Dies, Seven-month-old Son Critical After Being Pulled From Frigid B.C. River

    B.C. Conservative MP Randy Kamp Announces He Will Not Seek Re-election

    B.C. Conservative MP Randy Kamp Announces He Will Not Seek Re-election
    VANCOUVER — A British Columbia Conservative MP has decided not to seek re-election, saying it is time for him to move on to a new chapter of his life.

    B.C. Conservative MP Randy Kamp Announces He Will Not Seek Re-election

    Four Men Rescued After Fishing Vessel Capsizes In Waters Off Nova Scotia

    Four Men Rescued After Fishing Vessel Capsizes In Waters Off Nova Scotia
    YARMOUTH, N.S. — Four men are back on shore after a fishing vessel capsized off Nova Scotia's southwest coast early Saturday morning.

    Four Men Rescued After Fishing Vessel Capsizes In Waters Off Nova Scotia

    London Man Charged For Impersonating A Police Officer With Fake Cruiser

    London Man Charged For Impersonating A Police Officer With Fake Cruiser
    LONDON, Ont. — A 50-year-old London, Ont., man is facing charges after police say he equipped his vehicle to look like a police cruiser and pulled over numerous drivers.

    London Man Charged For Impersonating A Police Officer With Fake Cruiser

    Montreal Blocks Imam Hamza Chaoui's Project To Open Islamic Community Centre

    Montreal Blocks Imam Hamza Chaoui's Project To Open Islamic Community Centre
    MONTREAL — The Islamic community centre that controversial imam Hamza Chaoui had hoped to open in east Montreal will not see the light of day, local officials said.

    Montreal Blocks Imam Hamza Chaoui's Project To Open Islamic Community Centre