A Montreal man was arrested and charged for allegedly making death threats against Prime Minister Mark Carney, the RCMP said Monday.

The RCMP’s Federal Policing Eastern Region said Marc Porlier, 51, has been charged with uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm.

Police said in a news release that Porlier allegedly made the threats in an e-mail he sent to a Canadian senator and other unnamed individuals.

The RCMP said its Integrated National Security Enforcement Team began an investigation on Wednesday of last week.

The release also said Porlier appeared in court in Montreal on Saturday.

The Prime Minister’s Office said on the weekend that Carney is travelling out of the country in Italy this week on a “reduced schedule.”

Police have warned in recent years of an increase in threats directed against prominent politicians and government officials.

Several Canadians have been arrested in past years for making threats against former prime minister Justin Trudeau.