An 18-year-old individual has been arrested after making threats on social media to blow up the a bridge between North Battleford and Battleford.
The arrest was made at around 7 a.m., according to North Battleford RCMP.
Police say, a report was made to the detachment of an online threat made at around 4:30 a.m., with the time of the alleged attack to occur after 8 a.m.
The suspect's identity was confirmed, and he was located at a residence on 110th Street and arrested without incident.
The suspect's name has been released. He is Arthur Knudsen, an adult male from North Battleford.
He is charged with knowingly uttering threats to the City of North Battleford concerning the bridge.
The accused was in North Battleford Provincial Court Wednesday and has been remanded in custody. Knudsen is due back in provincial court Thursday morning.
The Crown has reserved election, and is opposed Knutson's release.
According to Sgt. Neil Tremblay of the Battlefords RCMP detachment, the threat involved the main traffic bridges across the North Saskatchewan River.
Someone had noted that "a male had made threats on a Facebook page that was specific to the community of North Battleford, like a group page."
On Facebook, Tremblay said the individual had "made mention of using a homemade or improvised explosive device of some kind and that his intention was to take down one of the traffic bridges, no indication whether it was north or south, at 8 a.m. this morning (Wednesday)."
It took about an hour for police to confirm the suspect's identity and a little later to determine his address, Tremblay said, before the arrest was made.
A heavy police presence was noticed around the North Saskatchewan River and the bridges during the early morning hours as police canvassed the area. On the scene were numerous members of the RCMP detachment and there was assistance from the Ministry of Highways as well.
Battlefords RCMP said immediate steps were taken to ensure the safety of the bridge and to ensure safety of the public. They added that no devices or means of carrying out the alleged threats had been located. Tremblay also noted police and highways officials made sure no other mischief was done to the bridges to ensure it was safe to travel on.
"When you have a threat of that type made in a public forum you have to take it seriously," said Tremblay, who added the investigation is continuing.
