A key suspect in the Air India flight explosion off the Irish coast 40 years ago has died, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
The police force confirmed his death to the after commemoration ceremonies took place in Ahakista in West Cork, and in Canada, on Monday, in memory of the 329 people who lost their lives when Flight 182 plunged into the sea off the Cork/Kerry coast on June 23, 1985.
The flight was due to stop over in London’s Heathrow before travelling to India for stops in Delhi and Mumbai. Passengers were primarily from Canada, but others on board came from India and Britain, as well as other countries. More than 80 of the victims were children.
The bombing is believed to have been plotted by Sikh extremists in Canada as revenge on India for its storming of Sikhism’s Golden Temple in Amritsar in 1984.
Mr X was believed to have been involved in testing an explosive device in woods in British Columbia in Canada in the weeks prior to the Air India bombing.
A statement from Canadian police to the said: “RCMP investigators with the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team — Pacific Region, confirms they uncovered information related to a suspect they believe was involved in testing an explosive device prior to the Air India terrorist attack on June 23, 1985; however, there has not been sufficient evidence to unequivocally confirm the identification of this suspect. Investigators confirm the suspect is deceased.”
It is understood the man recently died.
Despite his death, Canadian police are not revealing his identity for privacy reasons.
He is believed to have been involved in testing the bomb with the only person ever convicted in relation to the bombing, Inderjit Singh Reyat.
Reyat bought the dynamite, detonators and batteries for the Air India Flight 182 bomb, which was in a suitcase on the flight. Reyat pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the Air India trial. He was released from prison in 2017.
His co-accused, Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri, were acquitted in March 2005 of murder and conspiracy charges in the two bombings.
Sanjay Lazar, who lost his parents, his three-year-old sister and unborn sibling in the disaster described news of the man’s death as difficult.
“I have been an advocate for justice in this case. It is still today the largest bombing in aviation history. It is difficult even today to see what is happening — they have just found Mr X and he had passed away.
“He was the mystery bomber who tested the bomb in the woods. It is difficult but I am glad that the RCMP is still pursuing the matter.”
