Halifax police charge man after bomb threat against U.S. Consulate

Halifax police have charged a 54-year-old man with uttering threats against the local U.S. Consulate. This accusation led to a five-hour evacuation of several downtown buildings and streets on the day before. The incident occurred after police discovered the suspect's vehicle near the consulate on Sunday night and arrested him in the city's west end shortly after.

The vehicle was found to contain a propane tank and containers believed to be filled with flammable liquids. However, an explosives expert later determined that these items posed no threat to public safety, resulting in the lifting of evacuation orders by 2 p.m. on Monday. At his court appearance on Tuesday, the man appeared via video link, communicating through an Arabic interpreter.

He expressed a desire to present evidence of the racism he has witnessed but claimed he did not have the necessary documents. Assakereh also mentioned leaving the Islamic religion and suggested that if he were in an Islamic state, he would face the death penalty. The interpreter noted that Assakereh was alleging threats from "the war, police, security people and even the welfare, income assistance (people)."

This bomb threat comes in the wake of two other incidents targeting U.S. consulates in Canada within the past month.