Halifax police have filed charges against an individual on Tuesday for allegedly making a bomb threat towards the local U.S. Consulate. This incident led to the evacuation of several buildings and streets in downtown Halifax for five hours the day before. The accused, 54-year-old Ali Assakereh from Halifax, appeared in the provincial court on Tuesday afternoon to face charges of uttering threats and public mischief. His bail hearing was postponed until the next day at the request of the Crown, and he was remanded in custody.
Authorities disclosed that they were informed about the bomb threat on Sunday night and subsequently discovered the suspect’s vehicle parked near the consulate the following morning. Assakereh was apprehended shortly after in the west end of the city. A representative from the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa released a statement on Monday, declining to comment on the security issue due to the ongoing police inquiry.
After inspecting the vehicle, which contained a propane tank and containers suspected to hold flammable liquids, an explosives specialist concluded that they did not pose a danger to public safety. As a result, the evacuation orders were lifted on Monday at 2 p.m. A vast area surrounding Purdy’s Wharf was evacuated for five hours on Monday after an unidentified vehicle was discovered in a parkade.
During his court appearance on Tuesday, Assakereh participated via video link with the aid of an Arabic interpreter. He mentioned wanting to provide evidence of racism he had encountered but did not have the documents with him. Additionally, he discussed renouncing the Islamic religion, stating that in an Islamic state, he could face a death sentence. The interpreter conveyed Assakereh’s claims of threats against himself and his family by various entities.
The alleged bomb threat in Halifax occurred shortly after two individuals were charged with firing at the U.S. consulate in Toronto in July, marking the second incident targeting the building this year. A 19-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy are currently facing multiple charges in what authorities have described as a criminal-for-hire operation.
In a separate incident on March 10, two suspects allegedly fired shots at the U.S. consulate in Toronto, resulting in charges against an 18-year-old and a 19-year-old. Following these occurrences, RCMP Chief Supt. Chris Leather emphasized the necessity for heightened vigilance at consulates across Canada.
In May, an Iraqi national accused in the U.S. of planning terror activities in response to conflicts involving the U.S. and Israel was implicated in attacks in Canada, including the shooting at the U.S. consulate in Toronto. The accused was charged in Federal Court in New York with supporting terrorist organizations backed by Iran, among other charges. These allegations have yet to be tried in court.
No injuries were reported in either shooting incident at the U.S. consulates in Toronto.