Halifax police have charged a man with making a bomb threat against the local U.S. Consulate, leading to a five-hour evacuation of several downtown buildings and streets the day before. The suspect, 54-year-old Ali Assakereh of Halifax, appeared in Halifax provincial court on Tuesday to face charges of uttering threats and public mischief. His bail hearing has been postponed until Wednesday at the Crown’s request, and he has been remanded into custody.
Authorities were informed of the bomb threat on Sunday night and later discovered the suspect’s vehicle parked near the consulate the following morning. Assakereh was apprehended shortly after in the city’s west end. A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa declined to comment on the security issue, citing the ongoing police investigation.
Upon inspection, the vehicle was found to contain a propane tank and containers holding flammable liquids. However, an explosives expert determined that they did not pose a threat to public safety, leading to the lifting of evacuation orders on Monday at 2 p.m.
During his court appearance via video link on Tuesday, Assakereh, with the assistance of an Arabic interpreter, expressed his desire to present evidence of racism he has encountered. He also mentioned his departure from the Islamic religion, noting potential repercussions if he were in an Islamic state.
The incident in Halifax occurred shortly after two individuals were charged with shooting at the U.S. consulate in Toronto in July. The consulate had previously been targeted in March, prompting heightened security measures. In a separate case, a man faced charges in New York for allegedly supporting terrorist activities directed against the U.S. and Israel.
No injuries were reported in either shooting incident. The allegations against the accused have yet to be legally tested.