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Probe into discovery of knives on Canadian flight

Ajit Jain in Toronto

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police had discovered box cutters aboard Air Canada flight 704 that was to depart at 9.00 am from Toronto's Pearson International Airport to New York on September 11. But the flight was grounded after the tragedy in the United States, a front-page report in the Globe and Mail said.

According to the report, RCMP investigators had visited most of the passengers who were on that flight.

One passenger had reportedly confirmed that federal investigators had gone to his place to ask him whether he had noticed anything "suspicious".

The police reportedly instructed him not to speak to anyone about the investigation.

On the same flight, the police had also discovered two X-Acto knives, which have razor-sharp retractable blades, in overhead bins.

Air Canada spokeswoman Laura Cooke confirmed that on September 14, Peel Regional Police had been called in to investigate the discovery of the two knives.

The Pearson International Airport falls under the Peel Police.

RCMP spokesman Jack Bellerose would neither confirm nor deny the discovery of the box cutters.

"Even if we had information to that effect, we would not be able to give it to you," he was reported to have said.

Meanwhile, a report in British daily Guardian said investigators on both sides of the Atlantic now had evidence that there were at least six hijack teams -- comprising 30 terrorists - that were scheduled to take part in the September 11 operation.

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