Close X
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
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

    100 New RCMP Officers For Surrey, The City Gripped By Gang War

    100 New RCMP Officers For Surrey, The City Gripped By Gang War
    The federal government has pledged 100 new Mounties to the Metro Vancouver city in the middle of a spasm of gun violence and added $3.5 million to extract those vulnerable to becoming gang members in the drug-fuelled turf war.

    100 New RCMP Officers For Surrey, The City Gripped By Gang War

    Man Falls From Cliff In Chilliwack During Outing With All-Terrain Vehicle Group, Dies

    Man Falls From Cliff In Chilliwack During Outing With All-Terrain Vehicle Group, Dies
    RCMP say the 48-year-old was riding ATVs with a group on Windy Knob Trail. Emergency crews attended the scene but the man died in the fall.

    Man Falls From Cliff In Chilliwack During Outing With All-Terrain Vehicle Group, Dies

    Police Say Foul Play Not Suspected In Case Of Missing B.C. Fisherman

    Police Say Foul Play Not Suspected In Case Of Missing B.C. Fisherman
    RCMP say the man was last seen cleaning the deck of the vessel during a trip to the Bella Coola wharf from the North Bentick Arm Channel last Friday evening.

    Police Say Foul Play Not Suspected In Case Of Missing B.C. Fisherman

    Lower Mainland Police Search For Man Accused Of Trying To Shoot An Officer, Leading Car Chase

    Lower Mainland Police Search For Man Accused Of Trying To Shoot An Officer, Leading Car Chase
    A man accused of trying to shoot an officer before leading police on a high-speed chase across the Lower Mainland should be considered armed and dangerous, police say

    Lower Mainland Police Search For Man Accused Of Trying To Shoot An Officer, Leading Car Chase

    Report Of Fight, Gun Leads To Multiple Arrests At Kamloops Motel: RCMP

    RCMP say they have arrested three people after a fight at a Kamloops, B.C., motel and the discovery of drugs and a replica handgun.

    Report Of Fight, Gun Leads To Multiple Arrests At Kamloops Motel: RCMP

    Whistler Stabbing: Violent Long Weekend Claims Burnaby Teenager Luka Gordic's Life

    Whistler Stabbing: Violent Long Weekend Claims Burnaby Teenager Luka Gordic's Life
    Luka Gordic, 19, of Burnaby, B.C., died after being stabbed near Main Street early Sunday morning, confirmed his older brother Milos

    Whistler Stabbing: Violent Long Weekend Claims Burnaby Teenager Luka Gordic's Life