Reports of HOSTAGE situation at Montreal office of video game company Ubisoft

Police have swarmed Montreal's Saint-Laurent Boulevard amid reports of a group of suspects holding hostages at a building complex where video game company Ubisoft has its Canada offices.

Dozens of Montreal Police (SPVM) officers were spotted in the area on Friday afternoon, including what looked like a tactical team. There were unconfirmed reports in local media of a ransom demand by the hostage-takers. 

It is unclear how many suspects might be involved, or how many hostages they have taken. A number of employees managed to escape to the roof of the building, where they have barricaded the door, according to video captured by news helicopters.

Ambulances and armored police vehicles have arrived on the scene. There are reports of several people trapped in a conference room inside the building.

SPVM reported that there have been no reports of injuries so far. “No threat has been identified for now. We are currently evacuating the building,” the police announced at 3:50 pm local time (2050 GMT).

Ubisoft Montreal normally employs almost 4,000 people, but most of them are currently working from home due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Founded in 1997 as the Canadian subsidiary of the French video game giant, Ubisoft Montreal is behind such popular titles as ‘Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time’, the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ series, ‘Far Cry’, and ‘Watch Dogs’.

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