UPDATE: Hostage situation at Ubisoft in Montreal 'a hoax,' police confirm

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Dozens people have been reportedly taken hostage on Friday at Ubisoft Montreal, the video game developer responsible for Assassin’s Creed, Watch Dogs, and Rainbow Six: Siege.

TVA reports that a group of suspects are holding people hostage in the Ubisoft building on St-Laurent Blvd. in Montreal. The Police Department of the City of Montreal (SPVM) confirmed that a police operation is currently underway at and around 5505 Saint-Laurent. Thus far, there have been no reports of violence or injuries as a result of the apparent hostage crisis.

An email was sent to all Ubisoft employees on site: "Barricade yourself in a secure area that can be locked, put your phone in silent mode, remain silent and hidden."

“When we got upstairs, there were people talking to each other and talking about a hostage-taking,” said Sébastien Chaument, production manager at Ubisoft to the paper. “We got out, we opened the front door on Saint-Laurent and there was the tactical group that was there. "

Two witnesses said they saw police smash open the main door of the building with a ram, according to La Presse. An SPVM armored truck is at the scene.

Footage from a news helicopter shows what appear to be staff on the roof of the Ubisoft building.

BREAKING - Dozens of people are being held hostage on the rooftop of the #Ubisoft building in #Montreal, Canada. pic.twitter.com/7qGBmnRv19

— Disclose.tv 🚨 (@disclosetv) November 13, 2020

According to LCN News, which is on the site, hostage takers are demanding a ransom.

This story is developing.

UPDATE (November 13, 4:51 p.m ET): Police have confirmed that the incident at Ubisoft's Montreal office was 'a hoax,' with a 911 call triggering the army of police and other first responders to rush the scene. Following a 911 call about an armed stand-off in the building, the SPVM and a heavily armed tactical unit appeared on the scene around 1:30 p.m. and have reportedly found no hostage situation or suspects. Over 20 people, reportedly Ubisoft employees, have been on the roof of the building for several hours. The situation is now being investigated as a false alarm.

https://twitter.com/sarahleavittcbc/status/1327364640360247297?s=20