The Royal Canadian Mounted Police thwarted an Iranian plot to assassinate former Canadian Minister of Justice Irwin Cotler, a noted Jewish human-rights advocate who has strongly criticized the Middle Eastern nation’s regime.
The Globe and Mail, quoting an unnamed source Tuesday, reported that the RCMP informed Cotler on Oct. 26 that he was under the threat of assassination within 48 hours by agents of Iran.
Law enforcement knew about two suspects, but it is not known if they were arrested or if they left the country, the source said.
The source told the newspaper that Cotler, 84, was advised last week that the threat he had faced was significantly lowered.
The RCMP has had Cotler under protection since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks in Israel, after the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) informed that he was in danger from Iran. His protection includes armed officers, bulletproof vehicles, and more.
The RCMP, in a statement Monday, said it could not comment due to security reasons.