Trudeau took ‘unprecedented’ step by wearing bulletproof vest: RCMP sources

by Ashley Burke, Mark Gollom · CBC News

Uniformed tactical officers in army green outfits and wearing knapsacks surrounded Trudeau

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau took an “unprecedented” step by wearing a bulletproof vest at a campaign rally in response to a security threat, say two veteran RCMP sources.

The sources, who are familiar with the operations of the prime minister’s personal security detail, told CBC News they’ve seen leaders wear body armour in other countries, but not Canada.

It’s also unprecedented to have a heavily armed tactical team in plain sight around Trudeau, they said. Normally those highly trained RCMP members are covert, not out in the open at campaign events, the sources said.

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On Saturday, Trudeau’s scheduled appearance at a rally of 2,000 supporters in Mississauga was delayed by 90 minutes and featured a much heavier security detail once he took the stage.

Surrounded Trudeau

Uniformed tactical officers wearing knapsacks, as well as officers in plainclothes, surrounded him as he addressed the crowd. Some of the plainclothes officers were from Trudeau’s protective detail, while others were from the VIP protective policing unit.

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CBC News sources confirmed that at the Mississauga rally, Trudeau wore a bulletproof vest — also known as soft body armour — and that the beefed-up protection was a result of a security threat. The details of that threat have not been revealed.