A hotel in the Cowichan Valley was evacuated after an improvised explosive device was discovered.
North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP said in a statement issued this evening that members from the Explosive Disposal Unit safely removed an improvised explosive device from the Falcon Nest Motel in Duncan.
Occupants and employees of the hotel are now allowed to return and an investigation into the incident is ongoing, according to the RCMP.
“We would like to thank the public for their cooperation during this event,” said Const. Pam Bolton, North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP media relations officer.
This morning at around 11 a.m., RCMP officers discovered an improvised explosive device while executing a search warrant at the motel, which is located on just off the Trans-Canada Highway near York Street.
RCMP along with the North Cowichan Fire Department evacuated the motel and the surrounding area and asked people to stay away from the area.
“These situations can be dynamic but with the assistance from both the North Cowichan Fire Department and EDU, it allowed for a quick and safe resolution,” added Const. Bolton.
Multiple sources told CHEK News the device discovered inside the motel was a pipe bomb.
Martin Drakeley, the Municipality of North Cowichan’s manager of fire and bylaw services, confirmed earlier in the day that the North Cowichan Fire Department was on scene but said he couldn’t provide further details.
A nearby resident also told CHEK News that during the evacuation a nearby Tim Hortons provided food to those who were forced to evacuate. They also said the Municipality of North Cowichan opened the Cowichan Aquatic Centre for the evacuees as it began to rain.
CHEK News has reached out to BC RCMP for further comment.
A nearby resident of a motel in the Cowichan Valley that was evacuated earlier today sent me these photos of the Explosive Disposal Unit removing a bomb from the motel.https://t.co/lrOXPUlgGW pic.twitter.com/sJrmlRrvxU
— Nicholas M Pescod (@npescod) May 19, 2020
CHEK News
