CBC reporter Terry Milewski holds a document with areas blacked out before it was released to the Air India Inquiry. (CBC)
Aug. 22, 1984: An RCMP memo says "the following terrorists intend to place an explosive device on an international aircraft." The names in the document have been "redacted," or edited out before publication.
Oct. 9, 1984: M. K Dhar, an intelligence officer at the Indian High Commission in Ottawa, tells the Department of External Affairs: "We have received information that the All India Sikh Student Federation in a recently held meeting in London (U.K.) had decided to hijack Air India aircraft from any port of origin and destination in North America. A committee consisting of Ajaib Singh Bagri [other names redacted] was also constituted to draw up plans to affect hijacking Air India planes before Oct. 24, 1984."
Oct. 10, 1984: A CSIS memo says, "We had reports that Sikh extremists based in foreign countries have been planning to stage some spectacular violent activity.… They had talked about activities such as … blowing up an Air India plane.… Ajaib Singh Bagri is also reported to be planning to hijack an Air India plane during 1984/10 in order to demand the release of the seven hijackers of an IAC plane to Dubai, who are presently under detention in India.… We have no personal particular of Ajaib Singh Bagri, excepting the knowledge that he belongs to the Babbar Khalsa of Vancouver and we rate him one of the most dangerous extremists elements."
Dec. 31, 1984: Air India writes to the RCMP at Montreal's Mirabel Airport, marking the letter "most urgent and important" and attaching another telex from India about "a possible security threat to Air India."
Jan. 9, 1985: A secret RCMP memo refers to a "self-admitted Sikh terrorist" arrested at Vancouver International Airport while attempting to enter Canada on false Swiss passport, saying, "Vancouver continues to be the hotbed of activity within Canada.… It is easily seen that Sikh extremist activity in Canada has not subsided. It is felt that these groups constitute the greatest danger to Indian diplomatic personnel and premises in Canada."
Jan. 11, 1985: A status report from Transport Canada on additional security measures at airports notes the ineffectiveness of mechanical bomb sniffers. An Air India letter with the same date outlines a plan "with effect from January 19, 1985."
March 1985: Indian diplomats note that two Canadian Sikhs have been arrested, one at Heathrow airport in London, England, and one at Vancouver International Airport, carrying parts of the same Uzi submachine gun. They're suspected of involvement in a plot to assassinate Indian officials in the U.K. or in India.
April 11, 1985: Air India calls the RCMP about a threat to hijack an Air India aircraft on April 13, 1985. Even though the RCMP say "there was no mention of a specific target and information was unconfirmed," police decide to post a car beside the plane as soon as it lands and throughout its stop in Toronto, and to "monitor the check-in counter closely."
May 22, 1985: Air India writes to the RCMP a "most urgent and confidential" letter requesting additional security "for the protection of our aircraft, joining passengers and cargo in Jun 1985."
May 27, 1985: Air India writes to Toronto police saying it has "reports that some extremist elements might try to indulge in sensational acts such as hijacking of Air India aircraft etc."
June 1, 1985: Air India in Bombay sends a telex to Air India at Toronto's Pearson International Airport saying an "assessment of threat received from intelligence agencies reveal[s] the likelihood of sabotage attempts being undertaken by Sikh extremists by placing time-delay devices in the aircraft or registered baggage."
June 3, 1985: Air India gives the telex to the RCMP, which in turn asks the Canadian Security Intelligence Service for a threat assessment &8212; but without attaching the telex.
June 7, 1985: An RCMP telex, marked urgent and secret, says that based on "non-specific" information, "feel added security appropriate and will be providing same, consistent with last flight."
June 18, 1985: Ontario Lt.-Gov. James Bartleman sees a secret intelligence report from the Communications Security Establishment (an arm of the Department of National Defence) warning that Air India Flight 182 will be targeted that weekend. Bartleman immediately takes it to a senior RCMP officer; he says the officer told him that "of course" RCMP had seen it and asked Bartleman not to tell him how to do his job.
June 20, 1985: The RCMP puts extra security on Air India operations at Toronto's Pearson International Airport, although Transport Canada refuses to pay for it.
June 22, 1985: Five RCMP officers are on duty at Toronto's Pearson International Airport and report that Air India Flight 182 has departed "without incident" at 8:05 p.m. ET. A later report notes: "News report indicates an Air India B747 with 325 persons was lost on radar at 0400 Toronto time. … the flight was identified as Flt 182 from Mirabel."
Menu
- Main page
- Inquiry faq
- Inquiry timeline
- Evidence (Part 1)
- Evidence (Part 2)
- Sikh militancy and the Air India attack
- Documents timeline