A man from Halifax accused of making threats to bomb the U.S. Consulate in the downtown area is now facing an additional charge described as an act of terrorism by a Crown prosecutor. Ali Assakereh, aged 54, attended a bail hearing at Halifax provincial court after being charged last week following an incident that led to a lockdown in the downtown area. An additional charge was brought against Assakereh for threatening an internationally protected person, as the U.S. Consulate property falls under this category according to the Criminal Code.
Federal Crown prosecutor Lee-Ann Conrod stated that the offense is considered terrorism under the Criminal Code, with a maximum penalty of five years upon conviction. Initially, Assakereh faced charges of uttering threats and public mischief by Halifax Regional Police. The proceedings have been postponed until the following week, and Assakereh will remain in custody until then.
Assakereh’s bail hearing has been postponed multiple times since his arrest on August 10. The new charge alters the conditions under which the accused can seek bail, as explained by Conrod. Following his first in-person appearance in court, Assakereh, a 54-year-old man, was seen smiling and attempting to address the court, but was advised by Judge Ann Marie Simmons to communicate with his legal representative.
The downtown area was put on lockdown on August 10 after Halifax Regional Police discovered a suspicious vehicle near the U.S. Consulate containing a propane tank and flammable liquids. The subsequent investigation led to the evacuation of nearby buildings as a precaution. Assakereh was apprehended in the Clayton Park neighborhood shortly after the discovery, resulting in the evacuation of the Canada Games Centre in the vicinity. The lockdown was lifted later in the day after authorities confirmed there was no longer a threat to public safety.