A Halifax man is facing a new and more serious charge over an alleged threat against the U.S. consulate that forced the evacuation of part of downtown Halifax earlier this month. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have added the charge as their investigation into the incident continues, elevating a case that had already unsettled the Nova Scotia capital.
The accused is 54-year-old Ali Assakereh, of Halifax. He had initially been charged by police with uttering threats and public mischief after the incident, and appeared in Halifax provincial court to face those counts before the latest development in the case.
The Mounties have now charged Assakereh with making a threat against an internationally protected person. According to the RCMP, the consulate qualifies as the official premises of an internationally protected person under the Criminal Code, a designation that carries added legal weight and reflects the diplomatic nature of the target.
At the heart of the case is what police say they found near the consulate. Investigators allege that Assakereh placed a propane tank and flammable liquids inside his car and then parked the vehicle close to the diplomatic premises, raising immediate fears about the potential for harm in a busy part of the city.
The discovery of the car prompted a swift and sweeping response. Police called for the immediate evacuation of several downtown buildings, including the waterfront office complex where the consulate is located. The threat forced an evacuation and lockdown of much of downtown Halifax while authorities worked to assess the situation.
The immediate scare eventually eased. An explosives expert later determined that the items found in the vehicle posed no threat to public safety, and the evacuation order was lifted, allowing the affected part of the city centre to return to normal after hours of disruption.
Even though the materials were ultimately assessed as harmless, the alleged targeting of a foreign consulate has kept the case serious in the eyes of authorities. With the added charge tied to the protected status of the diplomatic mission, the matter now moves forward through the courts as the legal process against Assakereh unfolds.