Canadian government refuses to hold public inquiry into Air India bombing

Airline Industry Information, March 21, 2005

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

The Canadian government is resisting calls for an investigation to be conducted into the Air India bombing of 1985.

Two men standing trial for murder in connection with the two bombs were found not guilty on 17 March by a Canadian judge, who stated that key prosecution witnesses were not credible.

The bombing of Air India flight 182 from Vancouver to London killed all 329 people on board and a second bomb, intended for Air India flight 301, killed two baggage handlers at Tokyo's Narita Airport.

Families of some of the victims, along with Canada's Parliamentary Opposition leader, Stephen Harper, have said that the Canadian government should hold a full investigation into the bombing of flight 182.

Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan has ruled out holding a public inquiry, however, and said that the government has already acted to ensure that such a terrorist act could not happen again.

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