Wood Buffalo RCMP responded to a call yesterday at approximately 10:40 a.m. regarding an unknown person seen with a rifle and hostages on a floor in the Nomad Hotel.
Police responded to the call with an immediate and high-risk response, which involved containing the area, evacuating the hotel and clearing the hotel room by room.
One individual was detained but was later released without charges.
The investigation revealed that there was no such person or situation in the hotel.
During any police incident, all RCMP divisions ask the public to refrain from posting any photos or videos on social media until after the incident has been cleared. Social media content can pose a risk to both police officers trying to disarm the situation, but also to the video taker by giving potentially dangerous individuals a clue on the location of a civilian.
The RCMP encourage the public to report any criminal or suspicious activity to the police. Reports tell them where to look, who to look for and where to patrol in the future. If you see a crime in progress, call 911.
