RCMP finally discovers identify of mysterious 1985 Air India bomb-testing suspect
Article content
BANTRY, Ireland — Police in British Columbia have finally identified the mysterious man who helped test a bomb on Vancouver Island a few weeks before the Air India bombing on June 23, 1985.
Article content
RCMP Asst. Commissioner David Teboul told Postmedia that the previously unidentified suspect in the mass murder case recently died without ever facing charges.
Article content
Article content
He said he couldn't release the name of the man due to privacy laws even though he's now dead.
Article content
Teboul and several other RCMP officers are part of the Canadian delegation here to mark the 40th anniversary of the Air India bombing. Dozens of relatives of victims are arriving to attend the service at a memorial to the 329 people who died when a B.C.-made bomb exploded on Air India Flight 182 off the coast of Ireland.
Article content
Article content
Teboul, who is the commander of federal policing in B.C., said that despite the acquittals of two key bombing suspects in 2005, investigators have continued to work on the file 'to tie up some loose ends and discover more truth that's independent of judicial process.'
Article content
That's what lead them to uncover the identity of the mystery suspect, dubbed Mr. X, who travelled to Duncan on June 4, 1985, with terror plot mastermind Talwinder Singh Parmar. The two men then joined up with electrician Inderjit Singh Reyat.
Article content
Article content
The trio went into the woods and tested a bomb all while they were being followed by agents from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. The agents heard the blast but thought it was a gunshot.
Article content
Article content
Parmar, founder of the Babbar Khalsa Sikh separatist group, was killed by police in Punjab in 1992 before he could be charged in the Air India terrorism plot.
Article content
Reyat was convicted of manslaughter for building another bomb that exploded at Japan's Narita Airport 54 minutes before the Air India blast. Two baggage handlers were killed. And he pleaded guilty to assisting Mr. X and Parmar build the Air India bomb.
Article content
Article content
Teboul said that while there is an continuing investigation 'there's very little realistic chance of seeing this matter go to another trial.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
5 hours ago
- CTV News
Police provide update on fatal Brampton shooting
Video Peel police give an update on the investigation into the fatal shooting of a man in Brampton on Friday evening.
CTV News
6 hours ago
- CTV News
RCMP launch secondary search in Battlefords for Ashley Morin
WATCH: RCMP will be searching waterways in the Battlefords area for clues into the 2018 disappearances of Sask. woman. The Saskatchewan RCMP says it has concluded an initial river search for signs of Ashley Morin, but found no evidence yet to indicate what happened to the missing woman. In an update sent Friday afternoon, a spokesperson with the RCMP said investigators have launched a secondary search in a remote area of the Battlefords river system. Morin was 31 years old when she was last seen in July of 2018 in North Battleford. Police believe she was the victim of a homicide. On June 16, RCMP announced that they will continue the investigation by conducting searches of rivers and riverbanks in the area throughout the week. 'The initial river search concluded yesterday afternoon. Today, investigators are conducting a secondary search in a remote area of the Battlefords river system; that search is expected to conclude tomorrow,' RCMP said in a statement Friday. RCMP say the historic case unit continues to investigate tips regarding Morin's disappearance. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.
CTV News
7 hours ago
- CTV News
B.C. boosts funding to target repeat offenders
Vancouver Watch The B.C. government has announced more funding in hopes of arresting more repeat violent offenders.
