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Hostage situation at Ubisoft Montreal confirmed hoax

The Montreal police informed via social media of a possible hostage situation happening inside Ubisoft's offices. According to local news outlets, the situation was a hoax.

By Andrés Aquino |

First Published November 13, 2020, 20:15

Hostage situation at Ubisoft Montreal confirmed hoax

ðŸ•’ 11/13/2020 - 14:54

Montreal News site Tvanouvelles report that sources close to them confirm the hostage situation was a hoax, and that investigators are trying to locate the person responsible for the call.

ðŸ•’ 11/13/2020 - 14:37

Employees are now being evacuated according to Tvanouvelles. Everything moving smoothly.

ðŸ•’ 11/13/2020 - 14:36

According to Canadian news site Tvanouvelles, the concerns triggering the initial operation appear to be unfounded.

Police don't want to jump to conclusions yet.

ðŸ•’ 11/13/2020 - 20:24

Jason Schreier, video game reporter for Bloomberg has warned of "misinformation" as he reports that Ubisoft employees received "security instructions but don't know what happened."

He further elaborates that there is no confirmation of a hostage situation.

"All I can report for certain is that Ubisoft staff have been told to evacuate or hideout safely."

ðŸ•’ 11/13/2020 - 14:18

QMI Agency has shared photos of the ongoing operation.

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ðŸ•’ 11/13/2020 - 20:11

According to an SPVM spokesperson, no injuries or harm has come to Ubisoft employees.

Reports of a possible hostage situation are coming out of Montreal with Ubisoft's HQ in the Mile-end the location of the incident. Montreal Police has informed users via social media that there is an "ongoing police operation at the corner of Saint-Laurent and St-Viateur," where the building is located.

There is an ongoing police operation at the corner of Saint-Laurent and St-Viateur. We ask people to avoid the area. The #SPVM is currently validating information and more details will follow. pic.twitter.com/44PjWzsCOh
— Police Montréal (@SPVM) November 13, 2020

According to news reports, dozens of employees have barricaded themselves on the building's rooftop trying to figure out the best course of action, while others have tweeted out that they're safe and on their way home.

POSSIBLE PRISE D'OTAGE | Des dizaines de personnes sont vues sur le toit de la bâtisse d'Ubisoft, en train de barricader la porte extérieure https://t.co/wrwYBoebWN pic.twitter.com/WQA4dXcnHl
— TVA nouvelles (@tvanouvelles) November 13, 2020

I’m safe, team here is safe, going home.
— Anouk Wolf-Kissed Total Landscaping (@Valskuiken) November 13, 2020

It appears that the distress call sent out to the armed officers was unfounded and was, in fact, a hoax according to Canadian website Tvanouvelles.

They report that "investigators are actively working to locate the person (s) responsible for the threatening call."

Whatever the case, the situation lived within Ubisoft Montreal offices was a scary one, with multiple news outlets reporting constantly on the entire ordeal.

(Photo: LCN)

After almost three hours of finding themselves taking shelter on the rooftop of the building, the remaining employees were searched by the tactical team deployed and have been evacuated in small groups.