Trudeau stresses probe into reports of Saudi abuse

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government is taking “very seriously” reports that Saudi Arabia is using Canadian-made armored vehicles in a crackdown on Shias in the Middle Eastern country.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government is taking “very seriously” reports that Saudi Arabia is using Canadian-made armored vehicles in a crackdown on Shias in the Middle Eastern country.

“We are looking at these claims very seriously… and have immediately launched a review,” Trudeau said during a visit in central Canada on Saturday.

The investigation was prompted after Canadian daily The Globe and Mail on Friday reported the apparent use of Canadian combat vehicles in Saudi Arabia’s mainly Shia-populated Qatif region, which has been the scene of protests since 2011 against the regime’s repressive policies and human rights abuses against the Shia population.

The daily cited military experts as identifying the vehicles appearing in photos and videos of the Saudi operations as Gurkha RPVs, manufactured by TerradyneArmored Vehicles in Newmarket, Ontario.