Shamima Begum: Canada would back Islamic State ‘trafficking’ inquiry

Pressure mounts for independent investigation into alleged smuggling of British schoolgirl into Syria by Canadian agent in 2015

Senior Canadian intelligence officials would support an inquiry into their organisation's deeply contentious role in the smuggling of British schoolgirl Shamima Begum into Syria, the Observer has been told.

Sources have told Tasnime Akunjee, the lawyer representing Begum's family, that there is significant concern within its ranks that a people smuggler working for Canadian intelligence helped Begum and two friends from Bethnal Green, east London, to join Islamic State in Syria. Until now, sources within the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) have kept their counsel over the scandal since it was revealed last week that the Metropolitan police in London allegedly knew that a people smuggler linked to western security services trafficked the then 15-year-old.