The OPP Criminal Investigation Branch is investigating multiple bomb threats across the province.
Police forces across the country were tasted with investigating multiple bomb threats on Thursday. Similar threats were to sent to institutions in cities across the U.S. as well., with authorities there saying the threats appeared to be a hoax. Police services in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Calgary all investigated threats, as did RCMP detachments in B.C. and Manitoba.
Threats were made to multiple institutions and buildings. In the U.S. schools, businesses and government buildings — hundreds of them across the country — were searched, while staff and students were evacuated.
Despite all the activity, however, no explosives were found anywhere law enforcement searched, both in Canada and in the U.S., leading authorities to conclude the hoaxes were part of an extortion scheme.
Emails were sent from a spoofed email address, warning a small bomb had been planted in the recipient's building and that the only way to stop it from exploding was by making an online payment in Bitcoin.
While the threats are expected to be a hoax, police services are encouraging the public to report any suspicious activity that could be a risk to public safety.
Detective Staff Sergeant Bryan Gast of CIB is coordinating the OPP's investigation into this matter.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
-with files from The Canadian Press
