Update #5 (11/13/20, 8:00 PM EST) – The Montréal Police have released a statement on the situation, confirming that no threat was detected at the Ubisoft Montreal offices.
The Montréal Police statement notes that the people who were evacuated from the building are being interviewed by authorities with on-site health services being provided by CIUSSS (Integrated University Health and Social Services Centres).
Ubisoft Montreal has also released a statement of its own at the same time, praising its employees for a calm and measured response in what could have been a very bad situation.
— Ubisoft Montréal (@UbisoftMTL) November 14, 2020
Additionally, Montréal Mayor Valerie Plante has expressed her relief and praised the police for their quick response to the incident, adding that the perpetrators will have to answer for the "irresponsible gesture" of alleged false reports of a hostage situation at the Ubisoft Montreal offices.
Montréal Police are asking that anyone who can provide useful information on today's events contact Info-Crime Montréal at 514-393-1133 or via the Info-Crime Montréal website where citizens can file a report anonymously and confidentially.
Our original story continues below.
An apparent hostage situation has been reported at the same building that hosts the Ubisoft Montreal offices.
French-language media TVM Nouvelles and Le Journal de Montréal report (via ResetEra) that Canadian police are on the scene. French ERT officers (Emergency Response Team, the Canadian equivalent of SWAT) were shown securing the area surrounding the building and approaching it with their firearms at the ready.
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
What's Going On At Ubisoft Montreal?
Police Montréal has confirmed that an operation is currently ongoing on the corner of Saint-Laurent and St-Viateur. One of the four corners of that intersection houses the Ubisoft Montreal offices along with several other businesses.
Hyper Scape's Senior Community Developer Eric Pope has stated on Twitter that a portion of his development team has currently barricaded themselves on the roof of the building.
this is insane. this is my team on the roof. pic.twitter.com/xT12NpTALF
— Eric Pope (@MrPope) November 13, 2020
On another front, Assassin's Creed Valhalla Narrative Director Darby McDevitt has stated that he is safe, owing to the fact that he is located in a different building.
Ok here. In another building altogether. Stay safe everyone. https://t.co/IOiEP2iA8b
— Darby McDevitt (@DarbyMcDevitt) November 13, 2020
The situation at Ubisoft Montreal is still developing. It is unclear if any Ubisoft employees are in any immediate danger, although the fact that dozens of people appear to have barricaded themselves on the roof is a cause for concern.
Currently, there is no information on who the suspect or suspects may be and what led to this incident. Given the fact that the Canadian ERT has seen cause to respond to this situation, it is likely that something very serious is currently happening in the vicinity. We'll update this article with more details as they come to light.
Update (11/13/2020, 2:50 PM EST) – Several additional Ubisoft employees have reported that they are safe. One apparent animator has stated that "most of my friends are [work from home]," referring to the fact that Ubisoft (as with most large corporations) shifted to a remote work plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to the spike of COVID-19 cases in Quebec recently.
If I see one joke about this Ubisoft situation we're going to have a real problem.
— Action Kazimer (@ActionKazimer) November 13, 2020
Most of my friends are WFH or accounted for at the moment. If you know anyone in house, please reconsider reaching out to them right now. Phone's going off are not good in these situations.
Two further Ubisoft employees have reported that they are safe. However, one of the two employees has stated that his colleagues in the building are "stuck," possibly referring to the people who appear to be barricaded on the roof.
My colleagues in the building next are still stuck, Please send good wishes
— Anouk Wolf-Kissed Total Landscaping (@Valskuiken) November 13, 2020
I'm at the office, and I'm ok. Too many people messaging me to reply to everyone. https://t.co/cXQ1R7VyW0
— Gavin Young | Black Lives Matter (@GavinDYoung) November 13, 2020
Additionally, the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, a federal broadcaster and the country's equivalent of the BBC) is reporting that the situation in the vicinity of Ubisoft Montreal is somehow related to an armed robbery.
Police have told Radio-Canada's Kim Vermette that the operation near the Ubisoft building in Montreal seems to be related to an armed robbery.
— CBC News Alerts (@CBCAlerts) November 13, 2020
It is not yet clear if the suspects were attempting to rob another business or residence in the area and fled to the Ubisoft Montreal building or if the suspects were attempting to rob Ubisoft itself.
We are continuing to monitor the story and will update our coverage as more information is discovered.
Update #2 (11/13/2020, 3:31 PM EST) – As the CBC reports, the Montréal Police have stated that they responded to the location following a 911 call and that officers are on site. No injuries have been reported at this time.
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
Montréal Mayor Valerie Plante has stated that she is in communication with police and monitoring the situation closely. She has echoed the police's advisory that people avoid going to the Mild-End sector for now.
Mon équipe est en communication étroite avec le @SPVM et nous surveillons la situation de près. Nous invitons les Montréalais•es à éviter le secteur du Mile-End. #polmtl
— Valérie Plante (@Val_Plante) November 13, 2020
Ubisoft employees have told Bloomberg that they have received "security instructions" from Ubisoft but that they are unaware of the details of the situation. Ubisoft PR has said that it is aware of the situation at the Ubisoft Montreal offices and are working with local authorities.
Clearly something scary happening at Ubisoft Montreal, but be wary of misinformation on Twitter. Employees tell Bloomberg they've received security instructions but don't know what happened. Ubisoft PR says: "We are aware of the situation and working with local authorities."
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) November 13, 2020
Hyper Scape's Eric Pope has added that he was on a call with people at the Ubisoft Montreal offices and they had to leave abruptly.
apparently. was on a call with folks at the office and they had to leave abruptly
— Eric Pope (@MrPope) November 13, 2020
We are continuing to monitor this story as it develops.
Update #3 (11/13/2020, 4:02 PM EST) – The Montréal Police are evacuating the building and have stated that it has not identified a threat in 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
It is unclear what led to the initial 911 call reported by the Montréal Police. We'll continue to report on this story as it develops.
Update #4 (11/13/20, 5:15 PM EST) – Police sources speaking to CBC have told the outlet that the initial 911 call was a hoax.
Police sources tell CBC News the 911 call that provoked the intense police reaction in Montreal's Mile End was a hoax.
— CBC News Alerts (@CBCAlerts) November 13, 2020
A public statement has not been released by local authorities at the time of this update. (Update: Montréal Police have released a public statement which can be seen at the top of this article.)
