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Workers at Montreal-based video game studio Ubisoft were forced to flee to the roof in potential hostage situation (UBSFY)

Ubisoft MontrealEric Thomas/AFP via Getty Images

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A major video game studio in Montreal, Canada, has ushered employees to the roof as local police surround the building on the street below on Friday afternoon amid reports of a potential hostage situation.

A video feed from Le Journal de Montreal showed the scene as it unfolded on Friday afternoon at Ubisoft Montreal,  a blockbuster video game studio in Montreal. 

The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal, Montreal's police force, confirmed a "police operation" to Business Insider, but did not confirm if the ongoing incident is "a hostage situation."

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//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1327328637323014147?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
There is an ongoing police operation at the corner of Saint-Laurent and St-Viateur. We ask people to avoid the area. The #SPVM is currently validating information and more details will follow. pic.twitter.com/44PjWzsCOh

Officers reportedly responded to a 911 call, and no injuries have been reported. The operation is ongoing, with "specialized" officers at the scene "inspecting the premises," the SPVM said in a statement.

An armored police truck was seen pulling up to the building, and employees on the roof could be seen barricading the door. Inside the building, employees were reportedly barricading themselves inside of conference rooms.

Ubisoft Montreal is the main development studio of French game publisher Ubisoft, and is responsible for major franchises like "Assassin's Creed," "Far Cry," and "Watch Dogs."

It's located on Saint-Laurent Boulevard, in the Mile End neighborhood of Montreal. Before the coronavirus pandemic, the office housed hundreds of employees, but as many employees have been working from home, an unknown, smaller number of workers were in the studio on Friday afternoon.

A Ubisoft representative told Business Insider, "We are aware of the situation and working with local authorities."

Got a tip? Contact Business Insider senior correspondent Ben Gilbert via email (bgilbert@businessinsider.com), or Twitter DM (@realbengilbert). We can keep sources anonymous. Use a non-work device to reach out. PR pitches by email only, please.

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