Halifax authorities have pressed charges against an individual for issuing a bomb threat directed at the local U.S. Consulate, leading to the evacuation of several buildings and streets in the city center for five hours the previous day. The accused, Ali Assakereh, aged 54, from Halifax, made a court appearance on Tuesday facing charges of making threats and causing public mischief. His bail hearing was adjourned to the following day at the request of the prosecution, and he was remanded in custody.
Law enforcement officials were made aware of the bomb threat on Sunday evening and located the suspect’s vehicle parked near the consulate the next day. Assakereh was apprehended shortly thereafter in the west end of the city. The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa declined to comment on the security incident, citing the ongoing police inquiry.
Subsequent investigations revealed that the vehicle contained a propane tank and containers believed to hold flammable substances. However, an explosives specialist determined that they did not pose a danger to public safety, resulting in the lifting of evacuation orders on Monday at 2 p.m.
During his court appearance via video link on Tuesday, Assakereh, assisted by an Arabic interpreter, mentioned his desire to present evidence of racism he had encountered. He also spoke about renouncing the Islamic faith, stating that in an Islamic state, such actions could lead to a death sentence. The interpreter relayed Assakereh’s claims of threats from various entities towards himself and his family.
Following the hearing, the interpreter indicated that Assakereh preferred a Farsi interpreter. Farsi, also known as Persian, is predominantly spoken in Iran, where it serves as the official language.
The alleged bomb threat incident in Halifax occurred less than a week after two individuals were charged with shooting at the U.S. consulate in Toronto in July, marking the second such occurrence at the facility this year. A 19-year-old and a 15-year-old are currently facing multiple charges in connection with what authorities have described as a criminal-for-hire operation.
No injuries were reported in either shooting incident. In a separate case, an Iraqi national facing accusations in the U.S. for plotting terrorist acts in response to conflicts involving the U.S. and Israel was also linked to attacks in Canada, including the March shooting at the U.S. consulate in Toronto. Prosecutors in the U.S. charged the individual with supporting terrorist groups backed by Iran, as well as with conspiracy and material support for terrorist activities.
Allegations against the accused individual have yet to be tried in court.