A Chatham-Kent man arrested on a VIA train on its way to Toronto from Ottawa allegedly threatened to kidnap Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s children, Cobourg police say.
At about 11:50 a.m. on Tuesday, officers in Cobourg attended the local train station after VIA staff and passengers reported overhearing a man speaking on his cell phone loudly and threatening Trudeau, his family, and unnamed female MPs, Cobourg police Sgt. Jeff Sheils told CTV News on Thursday.
The man did not threaten anyone on the train.
Sheils said the rail car where the suspect was found was evacuated of all passengers for a search but that eventually, the train was allowed to continue on to Toronto.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the Prime Minister's Office told CTV News in an email that the Trudeau family is putting their faith into the RCMP.
"We have complete faith in the police authorities and the RCMP Protective Policing Service when it comes to the security of the Prime Minister and his family," Deputy Director of Communications Olivier Duchesneau said. "We have no further comment to make."
A suspect identified as James Martin Platts, 57, has been charged with one count of uttering threats to kill in connection with the case.
He appeared in bail court on Wednesday.
Sheils said Transport Canada, the RCMP and several other police agencies have been told about the incident.
