No 'imminent threat' to Canada amid fallout of U.S. attack on Iran: police

As Canada continues to grapple with the fallout of the ongoing conflict in Iran, a group of police chiefs say there are no imminent threats in Canada or to Canadians. 

However, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police is warning Canadians to be vigilant, but says there is no current intelligence warning of problems as the airstrikes in Iran enter a second day. 

“Experience shows that periods of geopolitical tension can sometimes inspire extremist networks, hate-motivated individuals or proxy-related threat actors to exploit these situations to incite hate-fuelled violence,” the association says. “While there is no specific threat at this time, awareness and early reporting are essential components of prevention.”

On Saturday, the United States and Israel launched a major attack on the Middle Eastern country that left the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dead.

The statement from police leaders comes as some experts have warned of possible transnational repression, as the Islamic Republic may seek to retaliate against figures in the Iranian diaspora.

Just north of Toronto, a boxing gym owned by a prominent Iranian Canadian activist was shot at overnight.

Salar Gholami, lead organizer of massive Iran protests that have seen hundreds of thousands take to Toronto’s streets in recent weeks, said 17 bullets were fired into his gym in Thornhill, Ont., a place Gholami has used as a headquarters to organize Iran solidarity marches.

“The windows are broken and the bullets penetrated the walls, into the concrete,” he said in statements translated by spokesperson Pouria Afkhami. “This shows that it’s no longer safe here for Canadians themselves.”

Gholami said he believes his gym was targeted because of his activism and he alleged the shooting was carried out by people linked to the Islamic Republic. He said he also receives daily threats against his life.

Local police say they are investigating a shooting at a commercial property in the area but the motive is still unclear.

Under Khamenei, Iran had a history of lashing out against western countries through cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, online harassment and assassination attempts.

Thomas Juneau, assistant professor at the University of Ottawa's school of public and international affairs, said Canada should be “concerned” about transnational repression and the targeting of Iranian-Canadian dissidents, and human rights and democracy activists.

"Survival at home includes countering anti-regime activism abroad. They won't disentangle these two things," said Juneau.

Sajjan Gohel, international security director at the Asia Pacific Foundation, said Iran could “utilize its contacts with organized criminal groups ... to target the Iranian diaspora, to intimidate and even try to kill.”

Iran has so far retaliated to the U.S.-Israel airstrikes with missiles and drone attacks on Israel and nearby Arab Gulf countries hosting U.S. forces.

Hundreds of thousands of stranded travellers have been left scrambling as the conflict spills over, shutting down much of the Middle East to air travel.

Air Canada has cancelled flights from Canada to Tel Aviv until March 8 and halted air travel to Dubai until Tuesday. 

“If you are in either of these regions, please do not head to the airport,” the airline warns.

Canada’s largest flight hub, Toronto's Pearson Airport, is warning of delays and cancellations due to widespread airspace closures and are advising passengers to check their flight status before coming to the airport. 

The conflict has shut down airports and international airspace above Israel, Qatar, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. 

Officials at Dubai International Airport — the largest in the United Arab Emirates and one of the busiest in the world — said four people were injured, while Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi said that one person was killed and seven others were injured in a drone strike. Strikes were also reported at Kuwait International Airport.

More than 1,800 flights were cancelled Sunday, including those in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey and Egypt, and flight cancellations are expected to continue in the coming days.

Canada is warning people to avoid all travel to large swaths of the Middle East since the conflict began Saturday, including Lebanon, Israel and Palestine, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Iran, Syria and Yemen.

Canadians are warned to avoid non-essential travel to Oman, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. 

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld