Police have apprehended an individual on Monday morning in connection with an alleged bomb threat directed at the U.S. consulate situated in downtown Halifax. The Halifax Regional Police reported that the U.S. consulate received the threat on Sunday evening, prompting them to alert the authorities. Sgt. Michelle Dooks informed the media that law enforcement identified the suspect who made the threat and immediately launched a search on Sunday night.
Authorities traced the suspect’s vehicle, which was found at around 8:10 a.m. in the parkade near the Purdy’s Wharf towers, the location of the consulate. Upon inspection, police discovered a propane tank and several containers suspected to contain flammable liquid inside the vehicle. The Explosive Disposal Unit was summoned to the scene, where a suspicious bag was also found. Subsequently, a bomb threat alert was issued for the vicinity of Upper Water Street, leading to the evacuation of nearby areas in downtown Halifax, including office towers, a hotel, and the Halifax casino.
The 54-year-old suspect was eventually located on Thomas Raddall Drive in the Clayton Park area around 8:35 a.m. and taken into custody. Due to concerns about potential explosives in his possession, road closures were implemented in the area, with the RCMP Explosive Disposal Unit assisting in searching the suspect’s belongings. As a precautionary measure, the Canada Games Centre was temporarily closed but was set to reopen later in the day.
By 2 p.m., authorities confirmed that the vehicle and its contents posed no threat to public safety, leading to the reopening of all streets. The ongoing investigation is being coordinated by the combined RCMP-Halifax Regional Police Major Crimes Unit, with the suspect currently undergoing questioning. Eyewitnesses, including Thomas Shull and Amy Schwarz, shared their experiences of the evacuation and the necessary safety measures taken in response to the threat.
