Ubisoft Montreal have been subjected to a hoax call, causing many employees and police to assume they were under a hostage situation.
Original Story (Update at foot of article):
The Post Millennial and numerous others report that the Ubisoft Montreal offices in Saint-Laurent Boulevard’s Mile End are being held hostage.
Reports state dozens are being held hostage in the office complex of the Peck Building, which houses multiple businesses including Ubisoft Montreal. It appears as though the people have been driven to the buildings roof and the door barred. The incident reportedly began at approximately 1:30 p.m. ET
Several individuals are wearing white hoodies or coats with dark face coverings, it has not been confirmed if these are the hostage takers. It it also possible the hostages have barricaded themselves onto the roof.
La Presse reports (Translation: Google Translate), an email was sent out to all Ubisoft employees in the office, stating “barricade yourself in a secure area that can be locked, put your phone in silent mode, remain silent and hidden”.
“When we arrived upstairs, there were people talking to each other and talking about a hostage-taking,” production manager Sébastien Chaumont stated after leaving the building. “We got out, we opened the front door on Saint-Laurent and there was the tactical group that was there.”
We must emphasize that there are inconsistencies in La Presse’ reporting, as there has been no footage of the police entering the building. Sending an email alert to all employees in a sudden crisis seems doubtful, and Chaumont would likely have been taken into custody for safety, rather than being able to give information to the press that could cause issues for police. These scenarios are still possible however.
Police and paramedics are on the scene. CBC News Alerts reports that “Police have told Radio-Canada’s Kim Vermette that the operation near the Ubisoft building in Montreal seems to be related to an armed robbery.” La Presse reports the police have breached the building.
https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1327331201976295430
ALERT:
Reports of hostage situation at Ubisoft Montreal. #Canada
— FJ (@Natsecjeff) November 13, 2020
Breaking: A police operation is underway in Montreal, Canada.
Journal de Montreal is reporting that a possible hostage situation involving dozens of people is ongoing in the Ubisoft building. pic.twitter.com/qdxNRoTP3C— PM Breaking News (@PMBreakingNews) November 13, 2020
Ubisoft Senior Community Developer Eric Pope tweeted that he was speaking to his colleagues via phone, before they “had to leave abruptly.” Pope further stated seeing his own team members on the roof.
Given the circumstances, the Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege November Major tournament has been suspended.
UPDATE: Hostages are now reportedly leaving the building. There are unconfirmed reports the alert was falsely made.
TVA Nouvelles reports from their sources that the situation was caused by a hoax, claiming a “threatening call” caused staff to hide in conference rooms and elsewhere. This would also re-contextualize the earlier email reported by La Presse; a threatening calling stating a threat would be coming soon would give time for an email to be sent out to all employees.
Police are reportedly working to locate the person or persons responsible for the call.
BREAKING: Alleged hostages exited the building.
Sources from inside the building allege this apparent hostage situation was a false alert.
On the ground for @WestphalianNews #ubisoft #Montreal pic.twitter.com/RKWqBPMwvU
— Marie Oakes (@TheMarieOakes) November 13, 2020
Montreal Police have officially stated via Twitter “No threat has been identified for now. We are currently evacuating the building.”
[Developing]
