Toronto, June 14: A few Canadians are fighting in the Syria civil war, some as members of extremist factions, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said Thursday after releasing a report on the terrorist threats facing the country, reported the National Post.

“There are some, yes,” he said when asked if some had joined extremist groups, he said, “That’s correct.” But he added it was hard to known how many Canadians had taken up arms.

“I wouldn’t say there were 50 to 60 in Syria. I would say that figure is more broadly over the Middle East,” he said. “It’s very difficult for us actually to tell who in fact is over there because, of course, we have no exit information in this country.”

While websites have reported some Canadian combatants have died, the minister said he had received “no specific information” on deaths.

“We don’t have a police presence that would be able to say, ‘All right, let’s sort out the dead here.’ ”

Mr. Toews spoke after releasing the 2013 Public Report on the Terrorist Threat to Canada, which said Syria was becoming a “major theatre of operations” for terrorists and “reinvigorating” the extremist cause.

“Canada is concerned that the civil war is turning Syria into a hub for terrorist activities that will heighten the terrorist threat to Canada, Canadians and Canadian interests,” said the 30-page report, the first of its kind.