Police in Toronto evacuate library following bomb threat.
On Saturday morning, Toronto police evacuated the Toronto Reference Library in response to a bomb threat received at 8:44 a.m. on November 11, just before its scheduled opening at 9 a.m. Following the incident in the Bloor and Yonge streets area, authorities advised the public to avoid the vicinity as the building implemented hold and secure measures. A subsequent statement from Toronto Police Operations confirmed the successful evacuation of the premises.
The recent event follows a cybersecurity incident that occurred on October 28 affecting services at Toronto Public Library (TPL) branches and potentially exposing “sensitive data,” as stated in an official release.
On Tuesday, TPL disclosed that the incident was identified as a ransomware attack. As investigations proceed, the Toronto Public Library Board is scheduled to convene on November 13.
Throughout the ongoing investigation, library branches remain open, offering access to Wi-Fi, physical materials, and certain online services for patrons. However, services such as public computers, printing, online personal accounts, managing holds, and card renewals are currently unavailable.
“We continue to actively collaborate with third-party experts to assess the scope of the exposure and individuals impacted,” TPL wrote in a statement on Friday. “We anticipate the investigation will take some time to complete. We appreciate your patience and support. We will continue to be transparent, and provide further information as we learn more.”
