ON Thursday, July 9 at approximately 4 p.m., the New Westminster Police Department received a 9-1-1 call from someone who described finding what they believed could be an explosive device in the 300-block of Ash Street. Officers rushed to the location, secured the scene, and closed the 30- block of Ash Street to all traffic. Out of an abundance of caution, some residents were asked to leave their suites from a nearby multi-family building.
Officers worked in partnership with the BC RCMP Explosives Disposal Unit to safely remove the object to a secure location. Police worked in the area for approximately three hours, which included utilizing a police drone.
“We’d like to thank residents for their cooperation as we worked to ensure their safety,” said Sgt. Sergeant Andrew Leaver. “We treat every threat as real until we can determine otherwise. While this does cause a disruption, it’s paramount that we take steps to keep people safe.”
The investigation is in the early stages and explosives experts are examining the device recovered from Ash Street. The New Westminster Police Department thanked residents and drivers for their patience. They also thanked their partners at the RCMP Explosives Disposal Unit for their assistance and expertise. If you know anything about the suspected explosive device and have not spoken to police, you are asked to call 604-525-5411.
