Podunkian Gridlock

It was a tad chaotic in the downtown area of Prince Rupert on Thursday afternoon, as Prince Rupert RCMP blocked off a two block zone of exclusion around the Department of Fisheries building which also houses the city Post Office. The cause of the troubles in the downtown area was a reported bomb threat directed at the Federal building in the heart of the downtown area.

The Mix radio station reported on their 5 pm newscast, that the threat was relayed to local officials from southern offices of the DFO, a scenario that seems to have some solid basis considering the amount of time that RCMP spent entering and exiting the building. In the course of their report, the Mix reported that the threat had suggested that the bomb would have gone off at 3:30 in the afternoon.

That deadline has long since passed without any apparent explosions in the area. There was some speculation in the early going that the threat locally was part of a coastal wide string of threats, though nothing seems to have developed so far out of that speculation.

Two blocks in each direction were evacuated as a result of the local threat, including the city’s two main shopping malls, as well as a number of other businesses in the zone. Traffic was not allowed into the downtown area, while those leaving the area or tyring to cross the city had to use circuitous routes as police tried to control the flow of traffic in the area.

Prince Rupert RCMP and Fire Rescue continued to man roadblocks surrounding the DFO building into the early evening, re routing traffic and steering the growing number of the curious away from the scene of the continuing investigation.

In addition to the radio stations five o’clock newscast, The Northern View (conveniently located across the street from DFO for this breaking news story) was the first of the local print media outlets to offer coverage of the incident, providing an on line update to their website they updated that report at 11:22 in the evening with more details and a photo.

A number of other pictures were posted to the local chat site hackingthemainframe as the situation continued to provide fodder for the discussion board participants.

April 17 Update: 9:36 pm-- The RCMP provincial website has posted a few details regarding the incident, detailing as of 7:30 this evening their actions so far and where the process is going to into the night.

April 17 Update: 10:00 pm-- The Vancouver Sun confirms that the bomb threats were indeed part of a coast long string of threats with evacuations and searches of DFO offices in Vancouver and Nanaimo today. The CBC website posts a small piece on the Prince Rupert situation.

April 17 Update: 11:00 pm-- Search of DFO building apparently complete, the streets of downtown Prince Rupert are cleared and re-opened to traffic.

April 18 Update: The RCMP post an udate on their website regarding the threat of Thursday. The Daily News features the story in its Friday edition.


RCMP shut down downtown core following threat at federal building
By Shaun Thomas
The Northern View
April 17, 2008

The Prince Rupert RCMP and fire department blocked off a large section of downtown and evacuated businesses along a two block radius on 2nd and 3rd Avenue beginning shortly after 3:30 p.m. as they responded to a threat at the federal building.

While RCMP have yet to give specifics of the event, The Northern View can confirm that officers and dogs entered and searched the building, including the roof. Meanwhile businesses from Fulton to 2nd Street were evacuated along both streets, including Zellers in the mall, and traffic was blocked from McBride right past Fulton. Pedestrians were stopped by fire personnel and RCMP beginning at 2nd street.

Look for more on this story as it becomes available here at thenorthernview.com.


Bomb threats prompt mass evacuations
Kelly Sinoski
Vancouver Sun
Friday, April 18, 2008

VANCOUVER -- Bomb threats to Department of Fisheries and Oceans offices in Vancouver, Nanaimo and Prince Rupert Thursday afternoon led to mass evacuations of the government offices in all three cities.

Hundreds of people left the DFO offices after someone reportedly called in the threat to staff members at the individual sites shortly after 3 p.m.

Police officers, fire officials and bomb-sniffing dogs were called in to search each of the offices, but no bombs were located. The offices were expected to reopen today.

"There was a threat; as a result of the threat we evacuated the building as an employee and public safety measure," DFO spokesman Terry Davis said Thursday.

As for who would call in such a threat, he said: "We have no idea."

Employees in Vancouver's 18-floor Burrard Street building, which includes Environment Canada, were advised over the public address system to leave in an orderly fashion.

The building was then swept to ensure no one was left behind before it was locked down.

"When I left the building there had been no sign of an explosive device being discovered all," Davis said.

In Prince Rupert, police and fire officials cordoned off a one-block area on Second Avenue in the downtown commercial district after the bomb threat to the DFO offices there. The DFO offices as well neighbouring city hall and several shops and residences were evacuated.

RCMP Insp. Bob Kilbery said no bombs were found in an initial search, but about a dozen police officers and fire officials remained on the site Thursday night and a bomb-sniffing dog was taken through as an extra precaution.

"We'll stay there until we're sure it's safe," Kilbery said.

In Nanaimo, hundreds of federal employees were also told to leave their offices Thursday afternoon, after a bomb threat was reportedly called into that city's DFO office.

Police and fire crews closed off both the Pacific Biological Station and most of Front Street shortly after 3 p.m.

"It was quite organized," biological station scientist Jim Irvine said of the evacuation. "There was certainly no panic."

Irvine said Thursday's incident was a first in the 20 years he's worked at the biological station.
This year the station is celebrating its centennial, with events planned for next week.

"We certainly hope this sort of scare wouldn't disrupt a community public education event," said Irvine.

Prince Rupert RCMP confirm bomb threat at DFO office
By Shaun Thomas
The Northern View
April 17, 2008

The Prince Rupert RCMP have confirmed that it was a bomb threat to the DFO office in the federal building that resulted in the closure of much of the downtown core earlier today.
The threat was received shortly after three p.m. and RCMP evacuated the building and businesses along Third Avenue and Second Avenue between 2nd Street and Fulton, including Zellers in the mall, while traffic was blocked from McBride right past Fulton. Pedestrians were stopped by fire personnel and RCMP beginning at 2nd street.

An initial search of the building was conducted, although officers did not find any explosives, and Third Avenue was opened up along with a section of 2nd Avenue. Portions of the downtown core remain closed as of nine p.m. as the RCMP await the arrival of a Police Dog Service dog that is trained in detecting explosives.

Investigation into the bomb threat continues. Police are currently following up on tips they have received and will exhaust all avenues in order to ensure a full and thorough investigation.

Anyone with any information regarding this bomb threat is asked to contact the Prince Rupert R.C.M.P. at (250)-627-0700 or, if you wish to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers at 250-627-TIPS (627-8477).

Look for more on this story in the April 23 issue of The Northern View.