Irish PM Marks 40th Anniversary of Kanishka Bombing with Wreath-Laying Ceremony in Cork

By A Staff Reporter

Cork, Ireland: On the solemn occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Kanishka bombing, Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin paid tribute to the victims by laying a wreath at the Ahakista Memorial in Cork, where the wreckage of Air India Flight 182 fell after it exploded mid-air on 23 June 1985.

In his address, Prime Minister Martin stated, “329 innocent people lost their lives over the skies of Ireland that morning, and the passing of time does not dim the scale of loss and of this atrocity... While the scale of this horrific act is of global significance, we should never forget that it is an intensely personal tragedy.”

The memorial event drew families of the victims, diplomats, Irish officials, and members of the Indian diaspora, all gathered to reflect on what remains one of the worst aviation terror attacks in global history.

Air India Flight 182, known by its call sign Kanishka, was en route from Montreal to Delhi via London when a bomb planted by members of the Canada-based Khalistani extremist group Babbar Khalsa detonated, killing all 329 people on board, including 82 children. The attack was later linked to Sikh separatists advocating for an independent Khalistan.

The Irish coastline near Cork remains a site of immense historical and emotional significance for those affected by the tragedy. The Ahakista Memorial, overlooking the sea where debris and bodies were recovered, stands as a powerful reminder of the international consequences of terrorism.

In his remarks, Martin reiterated Ireland’s solidarity with the victims’ families and its commitment to global counterterrorism efforts. “As we mark this painful anniversary, we renew our commitment to peace, justice, and remembrance,” he said.