How plan to assassinate former minister was foiled by Canadian authorities

An alleged Iranian plan to assassinate Canada’s former justice minister, Irwin Cotler was foiled by the authorities and the details have been revealed.

84-year-old Cotler who retired from politics in 2015 was his country’s justice minister and attorney general from 2003 to 2006.

Following his retirement, he remained active in campaigns for human rights around the globe.

Per reports from international media, Cotler was informed of an imminent threat to his life on October 26; there was to be an attempt on his life from Iranian agents within 48 hours.

The two suspects involved in the assassination plot were tracked by the authorities, according to an anonymous source, with the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, where Cotler is international chair, confirming the report.

Speaking on the arrest, Brandon Golfman, an organization spokesman said: “Cotler has no knowledge or details regarding any arrests made.”

On Monday, Tehran denied what it called “the claim of Canadian media that Iran tried to assassinate a Canadian person”.

Issa Kameli, the director general for the Americas at the foreign ministry, stated that the report was “ridiculous storytelling and in line with the misinformation campaign against Iran”.

A spokesperson for Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc who refused to comment told AFP: “We cannot comment on, nor confirm specific RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) operations due to security reasons.”

Francois-Philippe Champagne, a senior government minister, called the development “very concerning.”

Meanwhile, Cotler has been under police protection for over a year following the October 7, 2023 attack in Israel by Hamas gunmen.