Whisper
December 11th, 2008, 07:24 PM
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/photos/2008/12/11/mtl-uqam1.jpg
Heavily armed tactical squads swept the university building after gunshot-like sounds were reported. (CBC)
A police lockdown at a busy downtown Montreal university that forced thousands of people to hole up inside a building was sparked by a firecracker, officials confirmed late Thursday afternoon.
As many as 20 police squad units and several ambulances rushed to the education building at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQÀM) after numerous 911 calls were made at around 1:45 p.m. Thursday.
Students reported hearing detonation-like sounds in the Thérèse-Casgrain Building, while rumours circulated of an armed man inside.
Tactical units surrounded the nine-storey building at the corner of René Lévesque Boulevard and St. Denis Street while students and staff were instructed to stay inside their classrooms and laboratories.
The police said firecracker traces and a backpack containing .22-calibre ammunition and knives were found inside, but no traces of blood and no victims were located during the police sweep.
"Everything is under control," said police spokesman Raphael Bergeron, adding that just three people requiring medical assistance for shock.
School officials reported earlier that shell casings were found, but police would not confirm those reports throughout the afternoon.
Students and staff started trickling out of the building after 5 p.m. as tactical units swept classrooms and hallways, securing the floors one by one.
The building, which houses UQÀM's education and social sciences departments, will remain closed until further notice, with classes and exams scheduled Thursday night postponed for the time being.
Edwin Cedeno, a 36-year-old administration student, said he heard a bang but didn't think much of it.
"It sounded like firecrackers," Cedeno told the Canadian Press.
Sébastian Dufresne, a third-year student, was in a classroom in the faculty of education building and was about to sit an exam when he heard a loud noise.
"Just before two o'clock, we heard gunshots, or what sounded like gunshots," Dufresne said. "I was able to get out of class.… No one said we couldn't go out."
"I went to get a juice and then when I returned a police officer told me to back up."
Dufresne said he heard about five or six shots coming from the basement level.
Traffic havoc
The police lockdown at UQÀM caused serious traffic delays because officers blocked off several main arteries around the university building.
Traffic was bumper to bumper on René Lévesque Boulevard due to the police barricades.
Large snowbanks remaining after Tuesday night's storm did not help traffic flow.
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/photos/2008/12/11/mtl-uqam2.jpg
Police said they received several 911 calls around 1:45 p.m. from the Thérèse-Casgrain Building on René Lévesque Boulevard. (Ryan Remiorz/Canadian Press)
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/photos/2008/12/11/mtl-uqam3.jpg
A woman looks out a window at UQAM as police searched the building Thursday. (Ryan Remiorz/Canadian Press)
Heavily armed tactical squads swept the university building after gunshot-like sounds were reported. (CBC)
A police lockdown at a busy downtown Montreal university that forced thousands of people to hole up inside a building was sparked by a firecracker, officials confirmed late Thursday afternoon.
As many as 20 police squad units and several ambulances rushed to the education building at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQÀM) after numerous 911 calls were made at around 1:45 p.m. Thursday.
Students reported hearing detonation-like sounds in the Thérèse-Casgrain Building, while rumours circulated of an armed man inside.
Tactical units surrounded the nine-storey building at the corner of René Lévesque Boulevard and St. Denis Street while students and staff were instructed to stay inside their classrooms and laboratories.
The police said firecracker traces and a backpack containing .22-calibre ammunition and knives were found inside, but no traces of blood and no victims were located during the police sweep.
"Everything is under control," said police spokesman Raphael Bergeron, adding that just three people requiring medical assistance for shock.
School officials reported earlier that shell casings were found, but police would not confirm those reports throughout the afternoon.
Students and staff started trickling out of the building after 5 p.m. as tactical units swept classrooms and hallways, securing the floors one by one.
The building, which houses UQÀM's education and social sciences departments, will remain closed until further notice, with classes and exams scheduled Thursday night postponed for the time being.
Edwin Cedeno, a 36-year-old administration student, said he heard a bang but didn't think much of it.
"It sounded like firecrackers," Cedeno told the Canadian Press.
Sébastian Dufresne, a third-year student, was in a classroom in the faculty of education building and was about to sit an exam when he heard a loud noise.
"Just before two o'clock, we heard gunshots, or what sounded like gunshots," Dufresne said. "I was able to get out of class.… No one said we couldn't go out."
"I went to get a juice and then when I returned a police officer told me to back up."
Dufresne said he heard about five or six shots coming from the basement level.
Traffic havoc
The police lockdown at UQÀM caused serious traffic delays because officers blocked off several main arteries around the university building.
Traffic was bumper to bumper on René Lévesque Boulevard due to the police barricades.
Large snowbanks remaining after Tuesday night's storm did not help traffic flow.
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/photos/2008/12/11/mtl-uqam2.jpg
Police said they received several 911 calls around 1:45 p.m. from the Thérèse-Casgrain Building on René Lévesque Boulevard. (Ryan Remiorz/Canadian Press)
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/photos/2008/12/11/mtl-uqam3.jpg
A woman looks out a window at UQAM as police searched the building Thursday. (Ryan Remiorz/Canadian Press)