Powell River RCMP are investigating a bomb scare that occurred near the Rodmay Hotel.
Corporal Todd Woon said there was a report on Wednesday, November 13, of suspicious persons in a vehicle at the hotel. The incident was reported to Powell River RCMP around 11:20 am.
“Police attended to assist the ambulance,” said Woon. “Upon investigation, inside the car police located what appeared to be pipe bombs.
“The area was cordoned off and evacuated as a precaution and the bomb disposal unit came in from Vancouver and removed the devices from the vehicle and ultimately destroyed them a short distance away.”
Woon said Powell River RCMP held the parking lot until the bomb disposal unit attended at approximately 8 pm.
Powell River RCMP had two people in custody and both have been released to appear in court at a later date.
“Everything is okay; there was never any major risk to the public,” said Woon. “The matter is still under investigation to see why they had these devices in their possession.”
Rodmay Hotel manager Natalie Mason, who was not on duty at the time of the incident, said the hotel was not evacuated.
“The police said the people in the building were not in harm’s way if a bomb actually did go off,” said Mason.
She added that the hotel just ensured people stayed away from the area and they had to close down the store.
“There were a couple of people arrested but I don’t know who they are,” said Mason. “I don’t know who was associated with it. It was in our parking lot. I have no idea how the police actually ended up here.
“The next day it was business as usual.”
