Ubisoft Montreal: reported hostage kidnapping on office roofs

Many people on social media are describing a hostage kidnapping being held on the roof of the Ubisoft Montreal office building in Canada. The police already seem to be in the area, while some tweets describe unlikely situations.

The first tweet that started this chain of information concerns that of user @yaraelsoueidi, who corresponds to Yara El Soueidi, a writer for Cult MTL, who wrote:

Update: A friend of my boss works in those offices. She is working from home, but says she has talked to some colleagues who are hiding under the desks ...

It seems that Eric Pope (Hyper Scape Senior Community Developer), who called a company employee, saw the beginning instead as his interlocutor immediately hung up, suddenly.

Is this for real?

- Midiankai arts (comissions open) (@midiankai) November 13, 2020

Ubisoft Montreal is a studio located in Canada dedicated to video game development and specializing in high budget productions, based in Montreal, and owned by the company.

 

A Montreal police spokeperson said:

We got a call for robbery in a commercial space. For the moment, we are checking the facts.

https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1327331201976295430?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1327331201976295430%7Ctwgr%5E&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthepostmillennial.com%2Fbreaking-possible-hostage-situation-at-ubisoft-montreal

To make things ever closer to reality, it seems that some shots taken from a news helicopter and a passer-by, show an area limited by the local police.

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

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

Update # 1: Anouk Wolf-Kissed Total Landscaping, who in the real world coincides with Anouk Bachman (Production Marketing Manager of Assassin's Creed Valhalla), has sent a tweet explaining that some have been released, while others are still being held hostage.

I'm safe, team here is safe, going home.

- Anouk Wolf-Kissed Total Landscaping (@Valskuiken) November 13, 2020

Update # 2: the police continue to monitor the situation to understand better, inviting people not to approach the intersection between Saint-Laurent and St-Viateur.

Officers have been sent to the location following a 911 call. Specialized #SPVM officers are on site inspecting the premises. There are no injuries reported. https://t.co/omrH0sYHbQ

- Police Montréal (@SPVM) November 13, 2020

Update # 3: Police said they did not identify any threats and are now busy evacuating the building.

No threat has been identified for now. We are currently evacuating the building. #SPVM https://t.co/7g7eHU2B1T

- Police Montréal (@SPVM) November 13, 2020

Update # 4: it seems that it was a false alarm following a phone prank, but the police have not yet released any communication on the matter.