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Kelowna  

Bomb scare a false alarm

UPDATE: 12:50 p.m.

Kelowna Chrysler's used car lot and two nearby businesses were evacuated for about an hour Tuesday after an item that looked like a pipe bomb was found in a vehicle in for service.

RCMP Cpl. Amadeo Vecchio says it turned out to be a false alarm.

Vecchio says police set up a perimeter and a muster point at the former Greyhound building for those evacuated before calling in a police dog.

Through their investigation and after speaking with the owner of the vehicle, Vecchio says police determined the item was benign.

"It had something to do with some sort of device when it comes to inflating tires," said Vecchio. "It looked very similar to what's called a pipe bomb."

Vecchio says it was concerning to police that an employee had moved the device from the vehicle before police had arrived.

"If you don't recognize something, don't touch it," said Vecchio.

"No matter how good the best intentions are, if you don't know what it is, please don't touch it. Call the people who can make a determination of what it is."


UPDATE: 11:55 a.m.

Police have given the all-clear on Enterprise Way in Kelowna.

Officers at the scene say staff working on a vehicle in the shop for service saw something suspicious inside and called authorities.

The device appeared to look like a pipe bomb.

The employee apparently then took the object outside.

Police determined it was not a bomb, but some kind of device for inflating tires.


UPDATE: 11:40 a.m.

A police dog team is now on site as police continue to swarm the Enterprise Way area of Kelowna over an apparent bomb threat.


UPDATE: 11:35 a.m.

Two police vehicles are in front of the Chrysler dealership used vehicle lot behind the old Kelowna Greyhound bus terminal.

Officers are talking to people in the entrance to the lot as the area continues to be locked down.

Business appears to going on as usual across the street at the new vehicle side of the dealership.

The only evacuations appear to be on the east side of Enterprise. Shaw and other businesses on the west side of the street continue to be open.


UPDATE: 11:25 a.m.

Traffic is being allowed to move on Enterprise Way again, however pedestrians are still being kept out of the area.

Golf Town and the Capital News have been evacuated.


UPDATE: 11:20 a.m.

The police action on Enterprise Way is reportedly due to a bomb threat at Kelowna Chrysler.

Police have yet to confirm that, but are swarming the area and asking the public to stay away.


UPDATE: 11:10 a.m.

Kelowna RCMP have responded to a "suspicious circumstance" on the 2400 block of Enterprise Way, causing the area to be shut down. 

Enterprise Way between Leckie Road and Hunter Road are closed to traffic, and police request that the public stay away from the area.  

Cpl. Meghan Foster says the situation is unfolding and details are few at this point.

It is not yet known when the area might reopen. 


ORIGINAL: 10:55 a.m.

A heavy police presence is reported in the Enterprise area of Kelowna.

The area between Enterprise Way, Hunter Road and Leckie Road is shut down.

One Castanet reader says businesses are being evacuated due to an unspecified threat.

Photos show police cruisers blocking the road, and marker cones in the street.

Castanet has a reporter headed to the scene.

More to come



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