Who is the Canadian suspected in the Bulgaria bus blast? - Action News
Home WebMail Saturday, November 23, 2024, 11:02 AM | Calgary | -11.9°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
World

Who is the Canadian suspected in the Bulgaria bus blast?

The Canadian dual citizen accused in a deadly bus bombing in Bulgaria last year was born in Lebanon and moved to British Columbia with his mother as a boy, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said Wednesday while declining to release the suspect's name.

Jason Kenney says suspect moved to Vancouver with his mother when he was a boy

A former Canadian resident is being sought by Bulgarian officials in connection with a deadly 2012 bus bombing that killed five Israelis, their Bulgarian bus driver, and the bomber himself. (Reuters)

The Canadian dual citizen accused in a deadly bus bombing in Bulgaria last yearwas born in Lebanon and moved to British Columbia with his mother as a boy, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said Wednesday while declining to releasethe suspect's name.

"This individual came to Canada as a child, I think at the age eight, settled into Vancouver with his mother, and became a citizen three, four years later," Kenney said during an interview with Evan Solomon on CBC News Network's Power& Politics.

A day earlier, Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanovmade public his country's ongoing search forthe former Canadian resident, who is one of twosuspects being sought by security officials in the July 18, 2012,blast in Burgasthat killed five Israelis, their Bulgarian busdriver, and the bomber himself.

'This individual came to Canada as a child, I think at the age eight, settled into Vancouver with his mother, and became a citizen three, four years later.' Jason Kenney, Canada's immigration minister

Kenneysaid thesuspecthas "not normally been a resident of Canada" since leaving the country 10 years ago.

When pressed forthe suspect'sname, the ministersaid: "Im aware of his name, but Im not going to release that here."

Bulgarian officials allege the twosuspects being soughtused passports from Canada and Australia, respectively, to enter their country.

Canadian officialshave not confirmed or denied that claim, and have not released details of when the man waslast in thecountry.

"We think its possible he may have come back since then a couple of times visiting Canada but we dont have records on when that might have been," Kenney said.

Canada's full support

Bulgarian officials believe both suspects are now living in Lebanon, and have asked Lebanese officialsto assist with the investigation.

"We assume that he also has Lebanese nationality since he was born there, and has been living there the past decade," said Kenney, when asked about the suspect's dual-nationality.

Bulgariabelieves both suspects werepart of the Lebanese militant wing Hezbollah.

"That Bulgaria has found convincing evidence of Hezbollah involvement in this carnage is, sadly, not surprising. It is yet more evidence of the depravity of Hezbollah," said Canada's ForeignAffairs Minister JohnBaird on Tuesday.

A Shia militantgroup formed in 1982 in response to Israel's invasion of Lebanon, the Canadian government considers Hezbollah to be "one of the most technically capable terrorist groups in the world." The grouphas been linked to previousdeadlyattacks on Israel interest, but denies any involvement in the bus blast.

Bairdsaid Canada wasoffering its"full support"in the investigation.

Canadian authorities are in talks with their Australian and Bulgarian counterparts to get access to the evidence cited about the bus bombing.

With files from The Associated Press