OTTAWA — The RCMP arrested a 19-year-old man after he allegedly posted threats on Twitter targeting Parliament Hill, the Department of National Defense and two embassies.
In a news release, mounties say the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team was made aware of death threats and “terrorism-related” threats from a Twitter user.
“All threats to the public are taken seriously, including tweets on social media,” said RCMP Staff Sergent Pascal Herbert in a statement.
Police identified the user as 19-year-old Daniel Houde of Ottawa.
The RCMP alleges Houde made threats targeting Parliament Hill, the Department of National Defense, and the Chinese and American embassies in Ottawa.
It is not clear what specific threats the tweets allegedly contained.
Police say Houde was taken into custody and released on unspecified conditions. He has a court date for Jan. 18 at the Ottawa Provincial Court.
He faces four counts of a terrorist hoax, threatening to cause death or bodily harm to a person and threatening to burn, damage and destroy property.
A 19-year-old has been arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET), for posting numerous threats on Twitter. https://t.co/QVYyPqrwO5#Ontario #ODivision #RCMP #FederalPolicing #LawEnforcement #Police pic.twitter.com/uzlVARNvCr
— RCMP in Ontario (@RCMPONT) January 3, 2023