Halifax Regional Police responded to two weapons calls today and both matters remain under investigation.
The first call was a report received at 8:36 a.m. regarding a man walking in the area of Duke and Brunswick Streets in Halifax carrying what was believed to be a rifle. He was reported to be wearing black cargo pants and an ear piece and was concealing what is reported to be a rifle wrapped in black cloth. We only received the one report of this man and have yet to confirm this information. We’ve met with the complainant and are continuing to investigate.
The second call was a report received at 11 a.m. about a man who had left a firearm on a Halifax Transit bus. The man left on foot walking southbound on Albemarle Street in Halifax. He was quickly apprehended at 11:08 a.m. near Argyle and Carmichael Streets without incident, and the firearm was recovered from the bus. The twenty-five year-old man remains in police custody and the investigation continues. At this time, it’s unclear if this and the previous report of an armed man in Halifax this morning are connected.
In relation to these two calls, we can confirm that there were no threats made to anyone, no shots fired and no reports that an armed man entered any building. Further, we have no information at this time to suggest that the incidents today in Halifax are connected to the tragic incidents in Quebec and Ottawa this week but investigators in the Integrated General Investigation Section are continuing with the investigations to explore all the possibilities.
We recognize that today was alarming for everyone in downtown Halifax and those who had loved ones in the area. While we responded to these incidents as we would any weapons complaints, there is undoubtedly increased vigilance on everyone’s part. We thank everyone for abiding by our officers’ directions and for remaining calm in what was an alarming situation for our citizens. We truly appreciate the support of our community as we handle such matters. We continue to remind people to report any suspicious circumstances by calling 902-490-5020.
Source: Release
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