Toronto police clear out library after bomb threat: ‘People are out of control in this city’

Police have cleared out a Toronto library after it received a bomb threat on Saturday morning.

Officers received a report of a bomb threat at the Toronto Reference Library at 8:44 a.m. on Nov. 11, shortly before it was scheduled to open at 9 a.m.

Following the incident at the library in the area of Bloor and Yonge streets, officers urged people to stay out of the area as they kept the building in hold and secure measures.

The building was cleared out according to a follow-up statement from Toronto Police Operations.

Following the incident, numerous people were left aghast on X — formerly known as Twitter — due to the shocking situation at the Yorkville-area library.

The incident comes after the Toronto Public Library (TPL) faced a cybersecurity incident on Oct. 28, which interrupted services at libraries in the city and possibly exposed “sensitive data,” according to a statement.

On Tuesday, the TPL announced it confirmed the incident was a ransomware attack. While the investigation continues, the Toronto Public Library Board is set to meet on Nov. 13.

Library branches are still open amid the investigation, while Wi-Fi, physical materials and some online services are still available for patrons. But things like public computers, printing, online personal accounts, managing holds and renewing cards are unavailable.

“We continue to actively collaborate with third-party experts to assess the scope of the exposure and individuals impacted,” the TPL wrote in a statement, which was updated on Friday. “We anticipate the investigation will take some time to complete. We appreciate your patience and support. We will continue to be transparent, and provide further information as we learn more.”

Cyber attacks have targeted other systems in Ontario recently. Late Friday afternoon, the York Region District School Board released a statement noting staff became aware of a “cyber incident” on Wednesday. Five Ontario hospitals were also subject to a cyber attack last week, and said data connected to the incident has been published.