Police in Lethbridge, Alta., say a 40-year-old woman is in custody and charges pending after she took hostage and injured an employee of an office that provides free legal advice in southern Alberta.
Police said they were called to Lethbridge Legal Guidance in the 400-block of 5th Street S about an armed female suspect at around 1:30 p.m. Thursday and responded after taking the call. At around 3 p.m. members of the Lethbridge Police Service’s serious incident team entered the building and took the suspect into custody.
The victim, 54, suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital, he said. Police said in an update released shortly before 8 pm that the condition of the victim remained critical but stable.
Police did not disclose what caused his injuries.
Amber Moens, an employee of nearby Bread Milk & Honey, was on a break when the incident started. She said that her boss asked her to check the security cameras.
“(There were) police everywhere with guns on the way out,” she explained. “I came up and looked out the window and there … (and) the policemen in front.
“Next thing I know they were telling us to evacuate.”
A team of Global News present at the scene heard a loud explosion at around 3 am, followed by several smaller explosions.
Shortly after, paramedics were seen driving a stretcher to an ambulance that went off with its siren.
The suspect’s name was not released.
After the arrest, investigators said there was no longer a threat, but asked the public to stay away from the area until the investigation continued. Shortly before 8 p.m., police said officers were no longer at the scene.
No further details were released.
-Global News With files from ‘Alois Therien and Phil Heidenreich’
© 2022 Canadian Press