Toronto police give all clear after threat on city hall

TORON TO • A bomb-sniffing black lab named Ace scoured parts of city hall on Monday after Rob Ford publicly reported that an email had been sent to the deputy mayor and his brother, Councillor Doug Ford, threatening to blow up the building unless the mayor resigns within 12 hours.

Mayor Ford read reporters the email outside of his office shortly before 2 p.m. and called the threat “very serious” but also continued on with “business as usual.”

City hall was never evacuated and by dinner time, police gave the all clear.

“We don’t believe there is any evidence to support any danger to the public or to any elected official,” said Toronto police Inspector Frank Barreto, with Ace.

Mayor Ford commended police on a “fantastic job” as he left city hall. “All I can say is there was no bombs in my office, my brother’s office, or the deputy mayor’s office,” he said.

Const. David Hopkinson, a media relations officer with Toronto police, said police did not advise the mayor to go

City hall was never evacuated and by dinner time [secure]

public with the threat, and declined to comment on whether that was a good idea.

“You’re damned if you do, you’re damned if you don’t,” said Councillor Ford. “Always err on the side of caution. When this comes out, I think it’s his obligation to tell the people what’s going on.”