Public safety minister convenes top security officials, assures increased vigilance after attack on Trump
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Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc says top Canadian security officials have assured him that they have upped their vigilance following Saturday’s assassination attempt on former U.S. president Donald Trump.
In a series of posts on social media on Sunday, LeBlanc said he met with RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme, David Vigneault, director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, and Public Safety Canada officials.
“They have assured me that they are exercising increased vigilance and are in close contact with their American partners,” the minister said. “I have every confidence that they will continue to keep Canadians safe.”
LeBlanc also said he spoke with his U.S. counterpart, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and offered assistance from Canada in the fallout.
This morning, I convened and was briefed by <a href=”https://twitter.com/Safety_Canada?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@Safety_Canada</a> officials along with the Commissioner of the <a href=”https://twitter.com/rcmpgrcpolice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@rcmpgrcpolice</a> and the Director of <a href=”https://twitter.com/csiscanada?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@csiscanada</a>. They have assured me that they are exercising increased vigilance and are in close contact with their American partners. (4/8)
—@DLeBlancNB
The public safety minister said intelligence indicates there is no link to Canada at this time.
“Violence is corrosive for democracy — and we will always stand against it. No matter our political disagreements, violence is never the answer. Such actions are an assault on us all,” LeBlanc said.
The apparent assassination attempt occurred at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday evening. One attendee at the rally, identified as a 50-year-old former fire chief, was killed, and two others were reportedly wounded. Trump claimed he was shot in the ear but was otherwise fine.
The gunman, identified as a 20-year-old whose motive is not yet known, was shot and killed by the U.S. Secret Service.
On Sunday, Trump promised to attend the Republican National Convention, which is scheduled to begin in Milwaukee on Monday.
Trump is expected to unveil his pick for the vice-presidential position on his election slate during the convention.
Leaders from around the world, allies and rivals alike, were quick to condemn the assassination attempt on former U.S. president Donald Trump at his campaign rally on Saturday.
LeBlanc is the latest Canadian official to respond to the shooting. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted his message on Saturday.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also responded with his condemnation of the attack, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh similarly spoke against political violence.
