RCMP say threat made against Base Gagetown led to lockdown, arrest

RCMP say threat made against Base Gagetown led to lockdown, arrest

Spokesperson says all members on base are safe

A threat made against Base Gagetown in Oromocto led to the base being locked down Thursday before someone was arrested, police say.

RCMP Sgt. Stéphane Esculier with the Oromocto detachment said in a phone interview that police received a request for assistance from military police at 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown shortly after 3 p.m.

"CFB Gagetown military police have received information about an individual who made threats to attend a building on base and potentially shoot people," Esculier said.

The military police initiated a lockdown on the J7 building and closed the north and south gates of the base, he said. Military police and RCMP then went to a residence off the base in Oromocto and "apprehended one individual."

"There was no violence, there was nothing on base, nobody was harmed. The individual never made it to the base ... nor attempted to make it to the base. The lockdown procedures and all that were just initiated as a precaution," Esculier said.

He said the person was arrested by military police and RCMP and was passed over to military police. He directed further questions to them.

CBC News spoke to a spokesperson for Base Gagetown around 4:30 p.m. but was given few details beyond saying everyone on the base was safe.

"Canadian Support Group Atlantic is aware of an incident that occurred on the 8th of October 2026 at CFB Gagetown. We're currently co-operating with the local authorities as part of an ongoing investigation and no further information can be provided at this time," said Capt. Robynn Still, a public affairs officer for the base.

"The safety and well-being of our members remains our upmost priority, and all members of CFB Gagetown and their families are safe," she said.

She directed further questions to the RCMP and would not answer any questions about what happened.

Sam Farley is a Fredericton-based reporter at CBC New Brunswick. Originally from Boston, he is a journalism graduate of the University of King's College in Halifax. He can be reached at sam.farley@cbc.ca