A security source has confirmed to CTV News that a Calgary man has been killed in Syria.
Damian Clairmont, 22, is said to have travelled to Syria about a year ago and reportedly died while fighting in the country.
Clairmont reportedly converted to Islam a short time ago.
The federal government has not confirmed Clairmont’s death. However, in a statement to CTV News, a spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs department said: “We are aware of reports that Canadians have been killed in Syria. We are following the situation closely.”
A spokesperson for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) told CTV that “dozens of Canadians are believed to have travelled, or are planning to travel, to parts of the world where they can engage in terrorist activities.”
The agency’s statement to CTV said that Syria has become “a significant destination” for Canadians who travel abroad to participate in such activities.
The Canadian government has advised against all travel to Syria since April 24, 2011, due to the deteriorating situation in the country.
(With files from ctvnews.ca)
