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Canada to investigate security breach

OTTAWA, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Canada says it is investigating a video of veiled passengers allegedly boarding a plane in Montreal without showing their faces for mandatory identity checks.

The video filmed July 11 and posted on YouTube by a British traveler allegedly shows a man presenting passports at Trudeau International Airport to an Air Canada check-in clerk for himself and four women, two of whom have veils covering their faces, two of whom do not, Postmedia News reported Monday.

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All five are seen in the video boarding flight AC 864 to London's Heathrow airport without the clerk checking the faces of the veiled women.

Transport Canada's Identity Screening Regulations states each passenger must hand over their own government-issued identification to the clerk responsible for checking whether the person is who she or he claims to be.

Transport Minister John Baird said the airlines have protocols to check the identities of those who cover their faces, the Postmedia News said.

"Their approach is to be consistent with international standards and apply equally to all passengers, regardless of a person's culture or religion," Baird said. "If the reports are true, the situation is deeply disturbing and poses a serious threat to the security of the air traveling public."

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Baird said the Department of Transport will "immediately look into this matter and report back."

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