Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau donned an armored vest and appeared with a heavy security detail at a major election rally on Saturday. Officials would not reveal the nature of the threat. It resulted in a 90-minute delay before Trudeau appeared before about 2,000 supporters who had turned out as the election campaign ahead of the Oct. 21 vote.

Trudeau wore a suit jacket rather than his usual rolled-up sleeves and loosened tie, and was wearing a vest, which was noticeable in photos taken at the event. Trudeau was escorted through crowd by a large number of plainclothes Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers as well as Mounties dressed in green tactical gear.

RCMP spokeswoman Stephanie Dumoulin said for security reasons they do not comment on security measures given to the prime minister. A spokeswoman Trudeau also declined comment. Prepared remarks had indicated that Trudeau’s wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, was to introduce the Liberal leader. She did not appear or take the stage during the rally.

“Very upsetting to hear that Justin Trudeau had to wear a bulletproof vest tonight at a campaign event,” opposition Conservative leader Andrew Scheer tweeted. “Threats of violence against pollical leaders have absolutely no place in our democracy.”

Opposition NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh was the first to tweet his concern. “Any threat made against @JustinTrudeau, or any leader, is troubling to all of us,” he wrote. “No matter how you vote or believe, no one should face threats of violence. To the officers who protect all of us - thank you.”

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Opposition attacks Trudeau

The leading candidate to replace Justin Trudeau as Canada's prime minister attacked him Monday during the second debate of the campaign, calling him a phony and fraud who can't even recall how often he's worn blackface. Conservative party leader Andrew Scheer immediately brought up Trudeau's blackface scandal after it was not mentioned in the first debate. Trudeau is seeking a second term in the Oct. 21 elections.

"Mr. Trudeau, you're a phony and you're a fraud and you do not deserve to govern this country," Scheer said.
The blackface controversy surfaced last month when Time magazine published a photo showing the then-29-year-old Trudeau at an "Arabian Nights" party in 2001 wearing a turban and robe with dark makeup on his hands, face, and neck. Trudeau was dressed as a character from "Aladdin."

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Trudeau said he also once darkened his face for performance in high school. A brief video surfaced of Trudeau in blackface as well when he was in his early 20s. Trudeau has said he can't give a number for how many times he wore blackface because he didn't remember the third incident.

"He can't even remember how many times he put blackface on because the fact of the matter is he's always wearing a mask," Scheer said. The controversy made global headlines but hasn't led to a drop in the polls for Trudeau, who has been admired by liberals around the world for his progressive policies in the Trump era

Trudeau has long championed multiculturalism and immigration. Half of Trudeau's Cabinet is made up of women, four are Sikhs, and his immigration minister is a Somali-born refugee. Trudeau accused Scheer of hiding his campaign platform, which he hasn't released yet. And he accused the Conservative leader of wanting to impose cuts like unpopular Ontario Conservative Premier Doug Ford.

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"You're choosing, just like Doug Ford did, to hide your platform from Canadians and deliver cuts to services and cut taxes for the wealthiest," Trudeau said.

Scheer took every opportunity to attack Trudeau after a rough week for the Conservative leader that led to a dip in the polls. The Globe and Mail reported last week that Sheer holds dual Canadian-U.S. citizenship. Scheer said he only renounced his American citizenship in August. The process could take up to 10 months so Scheer could be the first American to become Canada's prime minister.

(With AP inputs)