Canada passenger railway tightens security after threat

Canadian passenger railway Via Rail confirmed today it is beefing up security after having received a threat to train stations.
Specific aspects of the threat were not released.
Via Rail spokeswoman Marie-Anna Murat told AFP it appeared to be "unfounded."
Still, she added, "VIA Rail has advised employees reminding them to be vigilant."
As a precaution, the railway has also stepped up police and canine patrols "in certain stations" and continues to work closely with law enforcement agencies.
"Lately, it seems that passenger carriers worldwide are subject to unsubstantiated threats against their facilities," Murat said.

"Such a threat was received at VIA Rail recently. The police were informed."

Via Rail trains travel over 12.500 kilometers of track in Canada connecting 143 stations. It transported 3.8 millions passengers in 2014, according to corporate figures.
Two radical Islamists who plotted to derail a packed passenger train traveling between Toronto and New York were sentenced last September to life in prison in Canada.
Tunisian national Chiheb Esseghaier and Raed Jaser, a Canadian resident of Palestinian descent, planned to cut a large hole in a railway bridge to derail a Via Rail train, with the aim of kill and injuring passengers and crew.
In the wake of a foiled jihadist attack on a train from Amsterdam to Paris last August, European nations also stepped up security at train stations.

A 25-year-old Moroccan, Ayoub El Khazzani, was charged in that incident. He was quickly overpowered by a group of French, British and American passengers after he stepped out of a toilet cubicle with an assault rifle, 270 rounds of ammunition and a Luger pistol strapped to his chest.