North Bay City Hall was put on lockdown for just under an hour yesterday afternoon.

North Bay Police say employees at city hall received messages containing threats from a male that he would harm himself and employees and around 3:40 the lockdown was put into effect as a precaution.

Police say all employees were safely evacuated.

The CAO of the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board Joseph Bradbury say the threat was considered serious and credible as the individual claimed to be coming to city hall with an alleged gun.

North Bay Mayor Al McDonald was in the building at the time the lockdown was in effect.

“Everybody had their designated areas that they had to go which are safe and secure. At no time did I feel threatened but there was concern among our staff members,” he says.
McDonald says they try and strike a balance.

“We take every step we can to make sure the public is safe. But we have to balance that with the fact it’s a public building and our citizens can access it. We’re trying to find the balance between keeping everyone safe and making it accessible for everyone,” he says.
As a precaution, two North Bay Police officers were in city hall for last night’s committee and council meetings.

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