Halifax man charged after bomb threat at U.S. Consulate

Halifax police have charged 54-year-old Ali Assakereh with uttering threats and public mischief following a bomb threat directed at the U.S. Consulate in Halifax. The threat, reported Sunday night, led to the evacuation of several downtown streets and a parking garage on Monday.

During the investigation, police located the suspect’s vehicle in a parking garage near the consulate. The vehicle contained a propane tank and containers believed to hold flammable liquids. However, explosives experts determined the materials posed no threat to public safety, and evacuation orders were lifted on Monday afternoon.

The incident follows a series of security concerns involving U.S. diplomatic facilities in Canada, including two separate shooting incidents at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto earlier this year. The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa declined to comment on the specific security matter, citing the ongoing investigation.