With Suspicious Minds

Anyone who had the misfortune of being in Halifax on the 26th of March may have noticed an area around the Town Hall and Princess St cordoned off with a heavy police presence. This had nothing to do with recent disappearances linked to the clawed ape-like 'under-terrors' that dwell in the town's sewers and can be found in the Accapulco on a Friday night. Instead, it was a bomb threat. I use the term 'threat' in the loosest possible sense, because I'm pretty sure it could be classified under urban regeneration.

The bomb was reported by a solider who found it behind the Army Careers Office. Sergeant Darren is quoted as saying "It was a metal cylinder. It was just sat next to the door. We need to be careful with being the army.”  Note the incredulity of it being 'just sat next to the door', instead of bouncing up and down on a Space Hopper like a normal suspicious package. You can probably forgive Darren for being cautious, though, as I imagine he's more than passingly familiar with the dangers commonly associated with high explosives.

Halifaxians, on the other hand, are not. Nearby buildings were evacuated, and hopeful residents gathered at the edges of the police cordon to see if anything were going on. Because witnessing a bomb blast first hand is so much cooler than being miles away, cowering under a table and saying the Lord's Prayer and waiting for the limbs to start raining.

"I don't know about you, Gary, but considering the amount of glass around, I really hope that thing explodes."

The local press have been all over the story, reporting it with the seriousness and professionalism we've come to associate with small-town publications.

UPDATE: SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE IS NOT SUSPICIOUS

I can only speculate that what they intended to say was 'Package is Not A Bomb'. The suspicion wasn't really the most dangerous outcome at the time. People did not let out a collective sigh of relief and say, "We'll, it's definitely a bomb, but at least we know what it is." Classifying it as not suspicious didn't spare the package from being carted off by police.

The internet was rife with speculation and over dramatic updates about evacuations, bomb squads and all that lot. Halifax's malnourished tourist trade were quick to jump on this morsel, though. Given you have no reason to ever visit, I suppose you can't really blame them. The Piece Hall tweeted:

"@thepiecehall is been used as an Evacuation point today for the bomb scare on Market Street ... please enjoy the this [sic] wonderful building".

"While this blows over, I know a great cafe on Market Street that does the sweetest cappuccino you will ever drink."

So whether you're waiting for the last chopper out of 'Nam, milling around a medical outpost in a football stadium during a zombie apocalypse, or barricading yourself inside a church crypt as the nukes begin to fall, at least take some time to admire the beautiful architecture. Maybe pick up some souvenirs.