Two of Edmonton’s major medical facilities — the Royal Alexandra Hospital and the University of Alberta Hospital — were placed under lockdown earlier today after emergency protocols were triggered in response to a developing security situation. The incident prompted a shelter-in-place order for staff, patients, and visitors, halting normal hospital activity for several hours.
According to hospital administrators and the Edmonton Police Service (EPS), the lockdown began shortly after reports of a suspicious incident on or near hospital property. Authorities have not released specific details about the nature of the threat, citing the ongoing investigation, but confirmed that the response was enacted out of an abundance of caution.
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Both hospitals immediately implemented their standard emergency procedures. Entrances were secured, internal movement was restricted, and staff were instructed to remain in designated safe areas. While routine operations were temporarily paused, emergency and critical care services continued under elevated security measures to ensure that urgent patients remained protected and attended to.
Because the Royal Alexandra Hospital and the University of Alberta Hospital operate in close coordination, both sites simultaneously issued a shelter-in-place directive. Administrators emphasized that patient safety remained their top priority throughout the event.
“Our primary concern is always the safety and well-being of our patients, staff, and visitors,” a University of Alberta Hospital spokesperson stated. “We are working closely with law enforcement as the situation continues to unfold.”
The lockdown affected several departments, with delays reported in elective procedures, diagnostics, and scheduled appointments. Families of patients expressed heightened anxiety as access to patient floors was limited, and hospital staff worked to keep communication open despite the operational strain.
Witnesses on social media described seeing hospital entrances secured by security teams and EPS officers conducting systematic sweeps of sensitive areas. Police confirmed that officers remain on scene and are actively investigating the suspicious incident.
Community members were advised to avoid the area unless absolutely necessary. EPS assured the public that the situation was contained within the hospital grounds and that there was no broader threat to the city.
As of now, officials expect to provide updates later in the day as more information becomes available and as hospitals work to restore normal operations.