Statement from RCMP and HRP: Thank you to citizens

HALIFAX- Late this afternoon Halifax Regional Police and the Nova Scotia RCMP released a joint statement thanking the public for their cooperation and support following their successful efforts at foiling the planned mass shooting at the Halifax Shopping Centre on Valentine’s Day.

“Over the past five days, RCMP and Halifax Regional Police have witnessed an outpouring of public support after learning of our successful efforts to stop a planned mass shooting at the Halifax Shopping Centre on Valentine’s Day.

The news that this event was planned was an eye opener to all and has shocked Haligonians and Nova Scotians to their core. Although we regularly plan, train and equip for incidents such as this, it has equally shocked us in the policing community.

Day-in and day-out, our employees go to work with a focus on keeping you, our citizens, and our communities safe. When investigators were able to intercept a significant threat, they were doing what they have been trained to do.

Police across Nova Scotia have literally thousands of interactions with citizens every day, some positive and some not. Therefore, when citizens feel compelled to take the time to thank us through social media, phone calls, emails, cards and even dropping off baked good at our offices as you have done in the past few days, we are truly humbled.

We continue to work tirelessly on this matter. On behalf of all the employees of RCMP and HRP, we thank you for the support and confidence you have shown in us.”

Two people accused of plotting the mass shooting appeared in court Tuesday Morning.  They  both face charges of conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit arson, conspiracy to possess weapons for a purpose dangerous to the public peace and unlawfully conveying a threat through social media to cause bodily harm or death.