A bomb threat phoned into BC Ferries late afternoon on Saturday set in motion a transportation nightmare and a lockdown for BC Ferries at their Tsawwassen Terminal.
The call apparently made from a local shopping mall claimed there was a bomb on the Ferry Queen of New Westminster which was on its way to Duke Point, the ferry which was underway returned to the terminal to be searched by Delta police.
Travellers waiting to board subsequent sailings were redirected to the Horseshoe Bay terminal in North Vancouver.
Late Saturday, the Tsawwassen terminal was reopened to vehicle traffic only, BC Ferries has offered a 50,000 dollar reward for anyone with information about the bomb threat.
Police investigate bomb threat aboard B.C. ferry
Updated Sat. Jul. 28 2007 11:33 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
There were no ferries sailing from Tsawwassen, B.C. Saturday night as police investigated a possible bomb on board one of the vessels.
An abandoned backpack was found on the Queen of New Westminster which sailed on schedule at 3:15 Saturday afternoon.
However, there appears to be no sign of an actual bomb on board.
The ferry was travelling to Duke Point in Nainamo when police received a 911 call from a man warning a bomb was on the boat.
Police told CTV News Vancouver the man had a Middle Eastern accent and called from Port Coquitlam.
Officials warned the public to stay away from the Tsawwassen ferry terminal and use the Horseshoe Bay terminal instead for ferry travel.
Tsawwassen was closed Saturday night to outbound and inbound ferries.
Passengers heard an announcement calling for all deckhands to report to the chief steward's office, before they were ushered into the boat's cafeteria.
Staff did the initial search but Delta police are now carefully combing the ferry which has since returned to dock.
Passengers are not being allowed to leave the scene until police thoroughly search them and their cars.
The ferry corporation is offering a $50,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest in the case.
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