Police in New Westminster, B.C., are asking people to immediately leave the area surrounding the city’s courthouse, including the Douglas College campus, due to a threat made at the courthouse Tuesday morning.
Sgt. Andrew Leaver said he cannot speak to the nature of the threat, which police became aware of around 10:30 a.m. PT.
He said police are working alongside fire and rescue services, paramedics, integrated police dog services, and the RCMP’s emergency response team, among others.
“We’re asking you to leave the area for your own safety, so please comply with what our officers are asking and get yourself somewhere warm and safe for the time being,” said Leaver.
A perimeter is being established around the courthouse and road closures are in effect, according to police.
“We treat every threat as real, and until we can prove otherwise, we’ll continue our investigation,” said Leaver.
Douglas College wrote in a post on X that its New Westminster campus is being evacuated “due to an ongoing police incident” at the next door courthouse.
It asked those inside to evacuate toward Eighth Street or Royal Avenue, and noted the college parkade is closed and vehicles are not accessible.
Due to an ongoing police incident at the New Westminster BC Court House next to Douglas College, the New Westminster Campus is being evacuated. For those inside Douglas College, please evacuate towards Eighth Street or Royal Ave. 1/2 <a href=”https://t.co/3GqfU1NBMq”>pic.twitter.com/3GqfU1NBMq</a>
—@douglascollege
More to come.