Montreal Museum of Fine Arts evacuated after threatening call

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The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts was evacuated by museum authorities late Sunday morning with assistance from the Montreal police department after a threatening call was received.

“The museum decided to evacuate and they called us,” said Montreal police spokesperson Jean-Pierre Brabant.

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The threatening call may well have been the work of a prankster, said Brabant, but “at the end of the day, we are taking it really seriously.”

A security perimeter was established around the downtown museum and a search of the premises was conducted, he said. Nothing suspicious was found.

The security perimeter has been lifted, but a police presence will be maintained at the site, said Brabant. Police are investigating the origin of the call.

The evacuation of the museum, which was crowded on a balmy Sunday, began at about 11:30 a.m. At about 1:45 p.m., visitors and employees were allowed inside to collect their belongings, but the museum remained closed and the day’s activities were suspended.

The museum was especially crowded because admission to its collections and most exhibitions is free for Quebec residents the first Sunday of the month.

sschwartz@postmedia.com

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