Man taken into custody after barricading himself in Congregation Emanu-El in Victoria

A man who barricaded himself inside Congregation Emanu-El, Conservative Jewish Synagogue in Victoria on Monday has been taken into custody.

UPDATE: @vicpdcanada say a man suffering from mental health issues has barricaded himself on the 2nd floor of Congregation Emanu-El on Blanshard and threatened police. ERT is inside trying to negotiate. Police say it might take awhile. More @CHEK_News #yyj #bcnews #yyjtraffic pic.twitter.com/xx3y1UhrKB

— Tess van Straaten (@tessvanstraaten) December 9, 2019

The man who barricaded himself on the 2nd floor of Congregation Emanu-El on Blanshard and threatened police is being taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Charges pending. More @CHEK_News 5 pm. #yyj #yyjnews @CHEK_News pic.twitter.com/Nv0BSSPMmK

— Tess van Straaten (@tessvanstraaten) December 9, 2019

Victoria police say a man suffering from mental health issues barricaded himself on the second floor of the synagogue on Monday morning and threatened police.

UPDATE: @vicpdcanada say a man suffering from mental health issues has barricaded himself on the 2nd floor of Congregation Emanu-El on Blanshard and threatened police. ERT is inside trying to negotiate. Police say it might take awhile. More @CHEK_News #yyj #bcnews #yyjtraffic pic.twitter.com/xx3y1UhrKB

— Tess van Straaten (@tessvanstraaten) December 9, 2019

Police were called to the area at around 8:30 a.m. for the report of an unwanted man in the building.

Blanshard Street northbound, near Pandora Avenue, was reduced to one lane before the man was taken into custody at around 12:30 p.m. He was then taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. According to police, there was damage inside the building and an investigation is ongoing.

A daycare inside the synagogue was evacuated at around 11 a.m. due to the incident.

VicPD, the Emergency Response Team (ERT) and the Saanich police K-9 unit were all on scene while the incident unfolded. VicPD say the ERT was called out of an abundance of caution and crisis negotiators speaking to the man.

Police say the public was not at risk.

Police service dog Grimm from @SaanichPolice is on standby outside Congregation Emanu-El on Blanshard. A daycare inside’s been evacuated and the emergency response team is inside. No word from @vicpdcanada on what prompted the police response. More @CHEK_News #yyj #bcnews pic.twitter.com/BtvV7FIjc8

— Tess van Straaten (@tessvanstraaten) December 9, 2019

Officers w/ @vicpdcanada have just pushed the media back across the street and extended police perimeter. We’re waiting for an update from @yyjcop on what they’re dealing with at Congregation Emanu-El on Blanshard. N-bound is down to one lane. @CHEK_News #yyj #bcnews #yyjtraffic pic.twitter.com/i1UQStLREp

— Tess van Straaten (@tessvanstraaten) December 9, 2019

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