Local police respond to 12 bomb hoaxes in just under 3 weeks
Posted Oct 5, 2016 10:16:30 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Halifax Regional Police and Halifax District RCMP say they have responded to a total of 12 bomb threats since September 15th.
They say they’ve determined all of the incidents to be hoaxes.
Insp. Reid McCoombs told The Rick Howe Show they take every report seriously and it’s been taxing for first responders.
“When we respond to these types of calls, a number of different resources would respond, including our regular patrol members, our K9 units, our forensic officers,” he explained. “And then there’s the follow up investigations that’s required afterwards.”
Reid said when it comes to whether or not to evacuate, it’s not up to police to make that decision.
“The fire authority does have the authority to evacuate, but we do not,” he said. “Whoever is in charge of the institution makes the final decision, then we will assist them in any way we can.”
Police continue to investigate the hoax threats and are looking into similarities in the calls to try and track down the person or persons responsible.
If caught, the suspects face several possible charges and penalties including:
-Section 140: Public Mischief (false report) – 5-years imprisonment
-Section 430: Mischief (render property or interferes with use) – 2-years imprisonment
-Section 264.1: Uttering threats – 5-years imprisonment
-Section 372(1): False messages (intent to alarm) – 2-years imprisonment
-Section 83.231(1): Hoax regarding terrorist activity – 5-years imprisonment
Between the two local forces, they’re investigating 20 threats so far this year, compared to 15 in all of 2015.
There have also been several bomb threats in the province outside of the Halifax-area, including one in Cape Breton this morning.
At 3:51 a.m., RCMP got a call indicating there were explosive devices at Baddeck Academy and people with weapons were heading to the school.
Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board shut the building down for the day.
RCMP say their search was complete by 8:30 a.m., they didn’t find any explosives and they’re still investigating.
