Halifax man faces two new terrorism hoax charges over U.S. Consulate bomb threat
Ali Assakereh, 54, has been hit with two additional terrorism hoax charges connected to an August bomb threat against the U.S. Consulate in Halifax, bringing his total to five charges. He remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court in person on November 2.
Halifax Regional Police have laid two new counts of making a hoax in relation to terrorist activity against Ali Assakereh, a 54-year-old Halifax man. The charges stem from a bomb threat made against the U.S. Consulate at Purdy’s Wharf on August 9 at approximately 6:15 p.m.
Assakereh now faces a total of five charges related to the incident. Federal prosecutor Lee-Ann Conrod stated that the Crown is proceeding by indictment on the new charges, each of which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
On August 10, police discovered a vehicle containing a propane tank and containers believed to hold flammable liquid in the Purdy’s Wharf parkade. The discovery prompted the evacuation of a large area of downtown Halifax. Streets in the downtown core were reopened about six hours after the evacuation began, once police confirmed there was no risk to the public.
Assakereh was arrested later that morning, at approximately 8:35 a.m., on Thomas Raddall Drive in Clayton Park. Road closures were also implemented in Clayton Park during a search of the suspect's belongings. He has been held in custody since his initial court appearance on August 11.
On August 18, the RCMP’s Atlantic national security enforcement section added a charge of making a threat against an internationally protected person, specifically targeting the U.S. consulate general office. Combined with earlier charges of uttering threats and public mischief, Assakereh now faces five charges in total.
During an October 8 court appearance, Assakereh appeared via video link from the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Dartmouth, with a Farsi interpreter present. He initially indicated through his lawyers that he wished to have his case heard in Nova Scotia Supreme Court but later held up a paper indicating he did not wish to change courts.
Judge Barbara Beach ordered Assakereh to appear in court in person on November 2 to facilitate communication.