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While there is no imminent threat to Canadians at this time, a Public Safety spokesperson said national security and law enforcement agencies are working in close co-operation with their allies.Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press
Ottawa says it has expressed concerns to Russia about reports that it plotted to put camouflaged incendiary devices aboard cargo planes destined for Canada and the U.S.
The Wall Street Journal reported this week that Russia was responsible for sending two incendiary devices to DHL logistics hubs in Germany and the United Kingdom in July.
According to the Journal report, parcels that exploded at logistics depots in Europe were part of a test run for a Russian plot to trigger explosions on cargo flights as part of a wider sabotage campaign for aircraft bound for North America.
“The Government of Canada is aware of and deeply concerned with Russia’s intensifying campaign, from cyber incidents and disinformation operations to sabotage activities,” Public Safety Canada spokesperson Zarah Malik said in a statement Tuesday.
“Canada has expressed this concern directly to Russian officials and unequivocally stated that any threat to the safety and security of Canadians is unacceptable.”
Moscow has repeatedly rejected allegations from Western countries that it is orchestrating a sabotage campaign in Europe. The Russian embassy in Ottawa did not respond to e-mailed questions.
While there is no imminent threat to Canadians at this time, Ms. Malik said national-security and law enforcement agencies are working in close co-operation with their allies.
Transport Canada and the U.S. Transportation Security Administration said they have bolstered air cargo screening over the past several months.
“Transport Canada takes threats to aviation security very seriously and works closely with key national and international stakeholders, including law enforcement, airlines, airport authorities and government of Canada security partners to respond to security incidents and ensure the safety of Canadians,” Ms. Malik said.
Maria Popova, associate professor of political science at McGill University, called the Russian bomb plot a worrisome escalation of Moscow’s campaign against Ukraine and the West. “It’s the first time targeting specifically Canada, but Russia has done similar things in Europe for quite a while,” Prof. Popova said by phone.
Past attacks in Europe linked to Moscow include poisonings, assassination attempts and bombs. Prof. Popova said Russia is stepping up its aggressions to ensure Western support for Ukraine becomes increasingly tentative.
“I think this is a lesson that we absolutely need to take seriously – that the more we are moderating our support for Ukraine, the more Russia will attack,” said Prof. Popova, coauthor of Russia and Ukraine: Entangled Histories, Diverging States.
Explosions in courier depots in Britain, Germany and Poland this July were the work of Russia, according to a Lithuanian presidential adviser.
“I can state that this is part of unconventional kinetic operations against NATO countries that are being undertaken by the Russian military intelligence,” Kestutis Budrys, a national-security adviser to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, told Reuters on Tuesday.
“We note that these operations are being escalated: Their focus is moving … to harming infrastructure and actions that could end up killing people,” he added.
Polish authorities have arrested four people in connection to the matter and are searching for two more people.
Warsaw blamed foreign intelligence services without specifically naming Russia.
Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza reported in October that a parcel had caused a fire in a truck at a site belonging to a courier firm near Warsaw and that the exploding parcels in Poland, Germany and Britain had been sent from Lithuania.
DHL did not address questions from The Globe and Mail. “We are aware of two recent incidents involving shipments in our network,” the company said in an e-mail. “We are fully cooperating with the relevant authorities to protect our people, our network and our customers’ shipments.”
Britain’s Security Service (MI5) Director General Ken McCallum said in October that Russia’s GRU military intelligence service was trying to cause “mayhem” across Britain and Europe.
“We’ve seen arson, sabotage and more. Dangerous actions conducted with increasing recklessness,” Mr. McCallum said.
With a report from Reuters
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Publish date : 2024-11-04 10:59:00
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