UPDATE (10:15 p.m. Friday)
RCMP say they have concluded their initial response to the threat received regarding the Nova Chemicals plant in Joffre.
They have determined that there is no safety risk to the public or employees at the plant.
Nova Chemicals also says its offices in downtown Calgary have been cleared by police, and it is safe for occupants to return.
The investigation into the initial threat remains ongoing.
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UPDATE (3:09 p.m.) – Nova Chemicals has issued the following statement:
“NOVA Chemicals received a threat at two of its locations in Alberta this week. Our top priority is the safety and wellbeing of our employees, the community and the environment, and we are cooperating fully with local police and the RCMP to investigate and resolve the situation.
“NOVA Chemicals’ corporate office building in downtown Calgary was fully evacuated but has since been cleared by the Calgary police as safe for occupants to return. The RCMP remain onsite at NOVA Chemicals’ Joffre site and are assessing if a risk exists.
“We are unable to comment further as this is an active investigation but will provide an update as additional information becomes available.”
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UPDATE (2:30 p.m.) – RCMP issued a statement saying they continue to investigate a “threat received by Nova Chemicals this week at multiple locations in Alberta.”
“We will continue to work with the company and our policing partners to resolve the situation,” the release reads.
rdnewsNOW will continue to share updates as the become available.
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RCMP remain on-scene at the Nova Chemicals plant near Joffre after police say a threat was made toward the facility on Thursday.
No details regarding the nature of the threat have been released at this time. As of 10 a.m. Friday Alberta RCMP remain on scene investigating what if any risk exists.
“RCMP take matters such as this very seriously and have taken appropriate action to determine the validity of the threat and ensure the safety of employees and area residents,” Alberta RCMP Cpl. Chris Warren said Thursday in a release.
The Nova Chemicals Joffre Plant, located about 18 kilometres northeast of Red Deer, employs more than 700 people and is one the largest ethylene and polyethylene production complexes in the world.
“Nova Chemicals, in consultation with the RCMP, are evaluating a threat received today to the Joffre site to understand the level of the threat. Our first priority is the safety of employees, the public and the protection of the environment,” says an automated message on the company’s phone line.
Meantime, the Nova Chemicals office in downtown Calgary was evacuated Friday morning due to a suspicious package.
Calgary police said they were investigating the package and shut down Seventh Avenue between Ninth and 10th Streets S.W., near the chemical company’s office building. C-Train transit is also shut down in the area.
Police have not confirmed whether the two incidents are linked.
Emergency crews responded to the Nova Chemicals office in Calgary on Friday for reports of a suspicious package (Global News)
