Halifax police have pressed charges against an individual for issuing a bomb threat towards the local U.S. Consulate, leading to the evacuation of various buildings and streets downtown that lasted for five hours. Ali Assakereh, a 54-year-old resident of Halifax, appeared in Halifax provincial court on Tuesday afternoon to face charges of making threats and causing public mischief. His bail hearing was postponed until the following day at the request of the Crown, and he was remanded into custody.
Authorities were notified of the bomb threat on Sunday evening, and the suspect’s vehicle was discovered parked near the consulate the next morning. Assakereh was apprehended shortly afterward in the west end of the city. A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa stated on Monday that U.S. officials would not comment on the security issue due to the ongoing police investigation.
Upon inspection, it was determined by an explosives specialist that the vehicle contained a propane tank and containers suspected to be filled with flammable liquids, but they were deemed not to pose a threat to public safety. Consequently, the evacuation orders were lifted on Monday at 2 p.m.
During his court appearance on Tuesday, Assakereh participated via video link with the assistance of an Arabic interpreter. He mentioned his desire to present evidence of racism he had encountered and discussed leaving the Islamic faith, indicating that he would face a death sentence in an Islamic state.
At the end of the hearing, the interpreter conveyed that Assakereh preferred a Farsi interpreter. Farsi, also known as Persian, is predominantly spoken in Iran, where it serves as the official language.
This alleged bomb threat incident in Halifax occurred shortly after two suspects were charged with shooting at the U.S. consulate in Toronto in July. A 19-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy are currently facing multiple charges in what authorities have labeled as a criminal-for-hire scheme.
In the previous shooting incident on March 10, at the Toronto consulate, two suspects allegedly fired multiple shots at the building. An 18-year-old and a 19-year-old are facing multiple charges in connection with that event. RCMP Chief Supt. Chris Leather characterized the shooting as a “national security incident,” emphasizing the need for heightened vigilance around consulates in Canada.
In a separate case, an Iraqi national accused in the U.S. of plotting terror activities was also implicated in attacks in Canada, including the March shooting at the U.S. consulate in Toronto. The accused was charged with supporting terrorist organizations and conspiring to commit acts of terrorism.
None of the accusations against him have been subjected to legal scrutiny.
