Montreal police say they've made an arrest in a case involving threats made on the internet. The threats allegedly target atheists and people in the scientific community.

In a news release, police say they've arrested a suspect but have few other details.

They launched an investigation into the online activity of a Montreal man following a deluge of complaints from around the world about his alleged habit of threatening people online.

More than 3,000 people signed a petition calling on police to investigate reports of death threats against atheists and secularists.

Some people allegedly being threatened said the Montrealer, who goes by the online moniker "David Mabus" among a number of pseudonyms, has been at it for nearly two decades.

Police were so inundated with complaints about the man last week that they pleaded with the public to stop contacting them and promised to investigate.