RCMP Bomb unit detonates suspicious toolbox left in Fernwood basketball court Thursday

After nearly eight hours, a series of loud bangs signalled the end of a tense situation in the Fernwood area on Thursday.

At around 8:30 p.m. on April 30th, the  Lower Mainland RCMP EOD (explosive ordinance disposal) team, along with the Greater Victoria Emergency Response team (GVERT) deployed several controlled detonations in dealing with a suspicious package left in a basketball court earlier that day.

In total, four controlled detonations were required to secure the scene safely.

At 12:30 p.m. that day, VicPD was called to the 1200-block of Gladstone Avenue after a witness observed an unknown man leave the suspicious item behind at the court.

Callers told police the man left the toolbox, which had been welded shut, at the basketball court and then left.

Victoria Police proceeded with an abundance of caution, calling on GVERT and the RCMP Lower Mainland Explosive Ordinance Disposal team, who arrived shortly before 8 p.m.

While the package was not an explosive device, according to VicPD the contents were suspicious and the investigation into the incident is ongoing.

“The toolbox contained metal, concrete and wiring. It and how it was placed are still considered suspicious,” Victoria Police said in a tweet.

The suspect who left the package behind is described as a Caucasian man with a brown beard and wearing a long-sleeved shirt. He was also said to be driving a white vehicle with a trunk, possibly a Mazda.

VicPD asks anyone who has information on the incident to contact them at 250-995-7654.

With files from Brishti Basu.