Police arrest man following threatening situation near Victoria Square

Montreal police stand guard near Victoria Square as a man made threats on Friday, July 14, 2017 (Angela Mackenzie/CTV Montreal)

Montreal police cordoned off an area near Victoria Square Friday afternoon and evening, diverting several bus routes, as they dealt with a man making threats.

With the incident taking place in a parking lot, police closed a perimeter consisting of Robert Bourassa Blvd., Notre Dame St., Gauvin St. and St. Jacques St. starting at 4 p.m.

The incident meant buses from Longueuil could not make it to the terminus in downtown Montreal and so ended up being diverted back to Longueuil.

Police said a man was in a car with several knives and was making suicidal threats.

Many officers, including those armed with rifles, and several canines, rushed to the area to keep an eye on the situation and to negotiate with the man.

Shortly after 7 p.m. police were able to arrest the man and place him in an ambulance.

Officers said he would be taken to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation