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Irish Examiner
24-06-2025
- Irish Examiner
Mr X, a key suspect in the 1985 Air India explosion, has died
A key suspect in the Air India flight explosion off the Irish coast 40 years ago has died, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The police force confirmed his death to the Irish Examiner after commemoration ceremonies took place in Ahakista in West Cork, and in Canada, on Monday, in memory of the 329 people who lost their lives when Flight 182 plunged into the sea off the Cork/Kerry coast on June 23, 1985. The flight was due to stop over in London's Heathrow before travelling to India for stops in Delhi and Mumbai. Passengers were primarily from Canada, but others on board came from India and Britain, as well as other countries. More than 80 of the victims were children. The bombing is believed to have been plotted by Sikh extremists in Canada as revenge on India for its storming of Sikhism's Golden Temple in Amritsar in 1984. Mr X was believed to have been involved in testing an explosive device in woods in British Columbia in Canada in the weeks prior to the Air India bombing. A statement from Canadian police to the Irish Examiner said: 'RCMP investigators with the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team — Pacific Region, confirms they uncovered information related to a suspect they believe was involved in testing an explosive device prior to the Air India terrorist attack on June 23, 1985; however, there has not been sufficient evidence to unequivocally confirm the identification of this suspect. Investigators confirm the suspect is deceased.' It is understood the man recently died. Despite his death, Canadian police are not revealing his identity for privacy reasons. He is believed to have been involved in testing the bomb with the only person ever convicted in relation to the bombing, Inderjit Singh Reyat. Reyat bought the dynamite, detonators and batteries for the Air India Flight 182 bomb, which was in a suitcase on the flight. Reyat pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the Air India trial. He was released from prison in 2017. His co-accused, Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri, were acquitted in March 2005 of murder and conspiracy charges in the two bombings. Sanjay Lazar, who lost his parents, his three-year-old sister and unborn sibling in the disaster described news of the man's death as difficult. 'I have been an advocate for justice in this case. It is still today the largest bombing in aviation history. It is difficult even today to see what is happening — they have just found Mr X and he had passed away. "He was the mystery bomber who tested the bomb in the woods. It is difficult but I am glad that the RCMP is still pursuing the matter." Read More Air India Flight 182: Cork photographer recalls taking iconic image of 1985 bombing tragedy
CTV News
24-06-2025
- CTV News
‘The pain is still there': Montreal ceremony marks 40 years since Air India terrorist bombing
People gather near the Lachine Canal to pay tribute to the victims of the 1985 Air India bombing. (CTV News) Montreal residents gathered Monday evening to mark 40 years since the bombing of an Air India flight that killed all 329 people onboard, including 268 Canadians. The attack on June 23, 1985 was the deadliest terrorist attack in Canadian history after a bomb on Air India Flight 182 from Toronto to London, England exploded over the Atlantic Ocean. Another bomb intended for another Air India flight also killed two baggage handlers at the Narita airport in Tokyo. The solemn ceremony in Montreal on Monday took place on the shore of the Lachine Canal in front of a memorial plaque that bears the names of the victims. Friends and family spread flower pedals and said prayers to honour their loved ones. Many say 40 years later, their wounds have never healed. Mahesh Sharna, who lost his wife, mother-in-law, and two children, said the bombing feels like it happened yesterday. Prakesh Sahu lost his father in the bombing. 'It was very hard. It's still hard now … It's been 40 years, but the pain is still there,' he said. 'Time heals everything but it's not so easy.' Only one person was ever convicted in the attack, Inderjit Singh Reyat, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received a 15-year sentence. He was released from prison in 2017. June 23 also marks The National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, first proclaimed in 2005. 'As we mark the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, we remember the victims of the Air India bombing and all others who have lost their lives to terrorism,' said Prime Minister Mark Carney in a statement on Monday. On the day of the 40th anniversary, the RCMP in British Columbia said a suspect known as 'Mr. X' who was believed to have helped test a bomb on Vancouver Island before the terrorist attack has died before facing charges. The Mounties are not naming the suspect, saying the evidence was not sufficient to unequivocally confirm the identification of the person who has since died. Ceremonies marking the anniversary also took place in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and County Cork, Ireland, near where Flight 182 went down. With files from CTV News' Matt Gilmour and The Canadian Press
New Indian Express
23-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Rich tributes to victims of terrorist attack on Air India flight on 40th anniversary
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri-led Indian delegation paid tributes to the Kanishka Bombing victims memorial in Ireland. The investigation into the case squarely blamed the Canadian Govt agencies, Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), Transport Canada, and Royal Canadian Mounted Police for the attack. The sole person convicted in this case was Mr. Inderjit Singh Reyat, who served a 20-year jail term and was released in 2016. The other accused have either died or have largely remained unpunished due to a lack of evidence.
National Post
23-06-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Majority of Canadians say Air India bombing not treated like national tragedy: poll
Article content In the aftermath of the attack, only one person, Inderjit Singh Reyat, was convicted, and he pleaded guilty to manslaughter for a bombing that killed two Japanese airport workers at Narita International Airport; it was supposed to bring down a second Air India flight. Only 29 per cent of Canadians can report accurately that nobody was convicted; in 2023, when pollsters asked the same question, 34 per cent knew the truth. Article content Seventy-one per cent believe there should be an exhibit about the bombing at the Canadian Museum of History and 65 per cent say it should be taught in schools. Fewer of those polled, just 41 per cent, support displaying wreckage from the bombed plane in Canada. Article content There are a number of conspiracies about the Air India bombing, and the polling finds that 51 per cent of those polled believe there is too much disinformation about what really happened. One conspiracy theory blames the Indian government for the attack. In fact, 10 per cent of Canadians believe the Indian government was behind the attack, while 28 per cent correctly identify violent factions within the Khalistan movement. (Sixty-one per cent of Canadians say they don't know who was responsible.) Article content Article content There will be ceremonies across the country to mark the anniversary of the bombing, and 13 per cent of Canadians say they would be interested in attending a memorial service, a number that holds roughly consistent across the country, except in Atlantic Canada, where 21 per cent say they would be interested. Such services have led to controversy as some attendees in the past have belonged to the Sikhs for Justice group, which supports the establishment of a Sikh homeland, and which believes one of the alleged architects of the attack is in fact innocent. Article content Sixty-three per cent of Canadians say it is inappropriate for Khalistan supporters to attend such a memorial, including 69 per cent of those who say they know a lot about the Air India bombing. Article content 'It's striking to see that in five or 10 years, a lot of the people who have tried to carry this torch of awareness while at the same time continuing to grieve for their loved ones, they're going to be gone. They're not going to be here anymore,' said Kurl. Article content Article content The polling was conducted online between June 13 and June 15, 2025, among a sample of 1,607 Canadian adults. The sample was weighted to be representative of adults nationwide according to region, gender, age, household income, and education, based on the Canadian census. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/- two percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Article content
National Post
20-06-2025
- National Post
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.'
