Would-be Bomber Surrenders Outside 'Journal de Montreal'

After threatening to cause an explosion, a man in a car just outside the entrance to Quebecor's Journal de Montreal surrendered to police yesterday afternoon.

Described as a 59-year-old, the man was heard shouting to police, "Kill me or I'm going to blow up the place," The Gazette of Montreal reported.

Police were called at 2:25 and had the man in custody at 3:15. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital for psychological evaluation before charges were filed, according to police. In his car were two small propane tanks and a container holding more than a gallon of gasoline.

The Journal building was evacuated, but it was not clear how many employees were present, as a labor dispute has had many news and office workers locked out since early last year.

Journal editors did not return telephone messages, and questions for the publisher were referred to a Quebecor vice president, who could not be reached immediately for comment.

The competing Gazette was told by unidentified sources that the distraught man was believed to have been a press operator on leave for two years who had seen his relationship with another, locked-out, Journal employee end.