About 200 Pierrefonds-Roxboro residents were removed from their homes Tuesday morning after reports that a man who might have extremist connections might be in a home with explosives, according to reports.
Several police cars, and the Montreal police’s special weapons and tactical squad were at the scene of Laurin St.
Montreal police Commander Ian Lafrenière said at 11:30 the suspect and his mother, who were both in their home, surrendered to police and were taken in for questioning.
Lafrenière says police will search their home to determine if there is any credibility to the threat or whether it was a hoax. Police won’t say how many officers are on the ground — but acknowledge the RCMP and Quebec provincial police are involved.
Montreal police received a tip from another force about someone making threats on social media. An investigation led them to a home in Pierrefonds-Roxboro, they said.
“We were told to get out. They told us we had 10 minutes,” said Laurin St. resident Luis Amorim. He said he heard a helicopter hovering overhead, and shortly later police arrived at his door to tell him to leave.
“There were heavily armoured police, the SWAT team, and lots of other police cars,” Amorim said. He said his street is generally quiet and there have not been many disturbances in recent months.
“At this moment, we are trying to determine if the threat is a real threat or a prank,” Lafrenière said. “We will question them. We’ll also search the house.”
Sunnybrooke station had been closed, but by 12:30 p.m., service was gradually returning to normal.
