Canada was warned before protests that violent extremists infiltrated convoy

Exclusive: intelligence assessments warned in late January that it was likely' extremists were involved in protests

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Days before the so-called Freedom Convoy reached Ottawa, starting a weeks-long occupation of Canada's capital and triggering a string of copy-cat blockades, the federal government was warned that violent extremist groups were deeply involved in the protest movement.

Intelligence assessments - prepared by Canada's Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre (Itac) and seen by the Guardian - warned in late January that it was likely" that extremists were involved and said that the scale of the protests could yet pose a trigger point and opportunity for potential lone actor attackers to conduct a terrorism attack".