Halifax man accused of threatening the U.S. Consulate not ready to pursue bail

HALIFAX – The lawyer for a man accused of threatening to bomb the U.S. Consulate in Halifax earlier this month says his client is not ready to seek bail. 

Ali Assakereh was arrested on Aug. 10 for allegedly placing a propane tank and flammable liquids in his car and parking it near the consulate, causing evacuations in a large section of downtown Halifax.

The 54-year-old is facing charges of mischief and uttering threats, as well as a charge for violating a section of the Criminal Code that prohibits threats against internationally protected people, including diplomats. The Crown said it considers the latter offence to be terrorist activity.

Lonny Queripel, Assakereh’s legal aid lawyer, told the court that the he has been working with the accused’s family on a bail plan, but it won’t be ready for some time.

He said Assakereh has agreed to remain in custody and the defence will inform the court if, and when, it is ready to pursue bail.

Assakereh, a balding man with a grey beard, appeared in person at Friday’s hearing wearing a grey sweater and grey sweatpants. He became emotional and appeared to cry at one point, holding his face in his hands before accepting a tissue from a sheriff. A translator relayed the proceedings to him in Farsi, the language mainly spoken in Iran. 

It was the sixth adjournment of Assakereh’s bail hearing and the Crown has been opposing his release. In the meantime, Assakereh is scheduled back in court on Sept. 10 to enter a plea and inform the court of his choice of trial format.

Federal lawyer Lee-Ann Conrod said that the charge for threatening internationally protected people usually carries a maximum sentence of five years.

She said she had mistakenly told reporters earlier this month that the maximum was 14 years.

On Wednesday, Conrod notified the court that the prosecution plans to seek a longer sentence because it considers the alleged threat against diplomats to be terrorist activity, which can be punished by life in prison.

However, Conrod said the Crown does not plan to pursue the life sentence.

Police have confirmed they learned about the bomb threat on Aug. 9 and found the suspect’s vehicle parked near the consulate the next morning at 8:10 a.m. Assakereh was arrested 25 minutes later in the city’s west end, not far from his Halifax home.

By 2 p.m., an explosives expert determined the propane and liquids in Assakereh’s car posed no threat to public safety and all evacuation orders were lifted.

The alleged bomb threat came less than a week after two suspects were charged with shooting at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto in July — the second such incident at the building this year. A 19-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy are facing more than a dozen charges.

The consulate in Toronto was previously targeted on March 10, when two suspects allegedly fired multiple shots at the building. An 18-year-old and a 19-year-old are facing multiple charges.

No one was injured in either shooting.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 28, 2026.