Man detained after bomb threat targeting U.S. consulate in Halifax
Police arrested a 54-year-old man on Monday after he allegedly threatened the U.S. consulate in downtown Halifax with a bomb.
After the U.S. consulate in downtown Halifax reported a bomb threat on Sunday night, Halifax Regional Police began tracking the source and identified a suspect by the following morning. The suspect's car was found in a parkade by the Purdy's Wharf towers, containing a propane tank, several containers that looked like they held flammable liquid, and a nearby suspicious bag, prompting the deployment of the RCMP Explosive Disposal Unit.
Authorities issued an alert for Upper Water Street, evacuating two large office towers, a hotel, and the Halifax casino, while road closures affected Thomas Raddall Drive and surrounding streets. The 54-year-old man was located on Thomas Raddall Drive in the Clayton Park area around 8:35 a.m. and taken into custody; his belongings were later cleared as safe. The Canada Games Centre, temporarily closed during the operation, reopened at 4 p.m., and police confirmed the area was safe by 2 p.m. The investigation is now being led by the combined RCMP-Halifax Regional Police Major Crimes Unit, with Sgt. Michelle Dooks confirming ongoing interviews with the suspect.
Why it matters
The incident shows how quickly a bomb threat can disrupt downtown activity and require coordinated law-enforcement response.
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