Canada probes possible Saudi use of its equipment in crackdown

MONTREAL: Canada warned Saturday it was reviewing reports that Saudi Arabia is using Canadian armored vehicles in a crackdown in the Sunni- ruled kingdom’s Shiite-majority east.

“We are looking at these claims very seriously ... and have immediately launched a review,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, speaking in French, said in during a visit in central Canada.

The Globe and Mail reported earlier that light armored vehicles sold by Canada to Saudi Arabia had been used against Shia civilians in a major operation that left several people in the town of Awamiya in Eastern Province.

Experts told the newspaper that vehicles appearing in photos and videos of the Saudi operations were Gurkha RPVs produced by Terradyne Armored Vehicles near Toronto.

Earlier, a spokesman indicated that Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland was “deeply concerned about this situation and has asked officials to review it immediately.”

“If it is found that Canadian exports have been used to commit serious violations of human rights, the minister will take action,” added spokesman John Babcock.

“The government is actively seeking more information about Saudi Arabia’s current efforts to deal with its security challenges, the reports of civilian casualties, and the reports that Canadianmade vehicles have been used by Saudi Arabia in its current security operations,” he said in a statement.

“Canada will review all available information as it determines an appropriate course of action.” — AFP