'Potential threat' closes Dartmouth mall, police on scene

Mic Mac Mall in Dartmouth has been closed due to a potential threat, say Halifax Regional Police.

Police said they received information about the potential threat at 9 a.m. ET on Tuesday. The mall chose to close after they were advised of the situation, said police.

There's a large police presence at the mall, as they are "actively investigating this matter to determine the validity of the threat," Halifax Regional Police said in a statement.

Police are also on the scene at a residence on Everette Street in Dartmouth, off Pleasant Street, in connection with the threat investigation, they said.

The mall tweeted it would stay closed for the day.

Crichton Park School, on Lyngby Avenue close to the Mic Mac Mall, is in a hold and secure mode because of the threat, the Halifax Regional School Board tweeted. All students are safe and parents will be contacted, they said.

South Woodside School, on Everette Street in Dartmouth, is also in a hold and secure mode, the school board said.

Jennifer MacLean, who works at a women's clothing store in the mall, said she heard an announcement on Tuesday morning asking everyone to leave the building immediately.

Mic Mac Mall in Dartmouth was closed on Tuesday as Halifax Regional Police investigated a "potential threat." (Angela MacIvor/CBC)

"Everyone came outside, and the police came out a couple of minutes later and just said the mall was closed for the day. No one was allowed back in," she told CBC News.

"People didn't even really know what was going on. There were still people wandering around. They hadn't heard it. There were still people coming in or trying to come in."

MacLean said she grabbed her store keys and jacket, locked up and went outside — then was told she couldn't go back in to get her purse.

She said the first thing that came to mind was the alleged mass shooting plot, foiled by police several weeks ago, that officers said was to happen at the Halifax Shopping Centre on Valentine's Day.

"It makes you think a little bit more about stuff like that," said MacLean.