Canada: arrest of ex-head of intelligence shocks experts and alarms allies

Police say charges of stealing covert information against Cameron Ortis pose 'potential risk' for US, UK, New Zealand and Australia

Canada and its allies are scrambling to assess the damage inflicted by what experts believe could be the largest security breach in the country's history after a senior federal intelligence official was arrested on charges of stealing covert information.

Following a lengthy investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted police, Cameron Ortis - the leader of the police force's own intelligence unit - was charged on Friday with leaking or offering to share covert information.