Man charged for Canada anti-Muslim bomb hoax is Lebanese

The man charged in connection with Wednesday's bomb threats at Concordia University was 47-year-old Lebanese PhD student Hisham Saadi, CBC reported on Friday.
2 min read
03 March, 2017
Saadi has been ordered to undergo a mental health assessment [SPVM]
The man charged in connection with a hoax bomb threat targeting Muslim students that forced the evacuation of nearly 4,000 from the downtown campus of Montreal's Concordia University on Wednesday was apparently a student of Lebanese origin.

Hisham Saadi, 47, was a PhD student in economics according to a man who told Radio-Canada he sublet his apartment to Saadi.

"I think he has [Canadian] citizenship," the man said, speaking on condition of anonymity, "He has been here for many years.

"He's a PhD student, he doesn't have [psychiatric] problems. He's lonely. Single, I mean," the man told Radio-Canada.

Saadi was arrested on Thursday after officers broke into an apartment in the Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood, CBC reported.

Police said he did not resist the arrest.

The arrest came a day after three buildings at Concordia University were evacuated after a letter was sent out to numerous media outlets claiming there were bombs placed around the campus.

Police found nothing suspicious after searching the university premises and transferred the case over to a major crimes unit.

Concordia president Alan Shepherd said the university has increased security.

"We're relieved to hear that a suspect is in custody," Shephard said in a statement Thursday.

"We continue to collaborate with the SPVM [Montreal's police force] to ensure the safety of our students, faculty and staff."

Saadi has been ordered to undergo a mental health assessment ahead of his bail hearing on Friday.