The workers at Ubisoft Montreal experienced a frightening situation on Friday afternoon near Montreal’s Mile-End neighbourhood. The initial report claimed that there was a hostage situation in progress near the video game developer’s workplace. Service de police de la Ville de Montréal later issued a statement on their website claiming that there is no threat. A representative from the company reported that they are fully aware of the situation and working with the local authorities.
This is happening right now near @UbisoftMTL – @CBCMontreal @CBCTheNational @CTVMontreal @CTVNews @Global_Montreal @LP_LaPresse @LeDevoir pic.twitter.com/ZxiJrAkkbm
— Paul Desbaillets (@pauldesbaillets) November 13, 2020
The local news stations began broadcasting the footages of people evacuating the area and Ubisoft’s employees going up to the roof of the building to take shelter. TVA Nouvelles, a Canadian news program later reported that the police department sent a tactical unit near the area. Montreal Police also confirmed through a tweet that they have received a 911 call and encouraged people to stay away from the areas.
Caller Demanded $2 Mil. Ransom
SPVM later probed an investigation and discovered the situation was the result of a hoax and there aren’t any threats. TVA Nouvelles reported that the call was made from inside the building at around 1 p.m on Friday. The caller also threatened to blow up the entire building if he was not paid the ransom fee of $2 million. Ubisoft’s employees have been working from home as well. Eric Pope, community developer from Unisoft, who was working from home identified his workmates (going to rooftop) through the broadcasted news footages.
The police officials later evacuated the building and there were no injuries reported. SPVM then collected the statement from all the evacuated employees and launched an official investigation for a hostage situation in a Saint-Laurent Boulevard office building. Sometime later, Ubisoft tweeted on their official Twitter handle and applauded the courage and composer of their employees. The company was also grateful to SPVM for their professional response. Ubisoft also thanked everyone for their wishes and kind words.
— Ubisoft Montréal (@UbisoftMTL) November 14, 2020
Ubisoft Montreal is one of the popular and renowned video game developers in the whole wide world. The Montreal office is the main development studio of the French video game publisher, Ubisoft. Ubisoft Montreal is also responsible commercially and critically successful video game franchises like Assasins Creed, Far Cry and WatchDog. The company recently released the latest instalment of the Assasins Creed, called Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
