A busy stretch of road in New Westminster was closed Tuesday morning after a “possible explosive device” was put inside a mailbox, police say.
Authorities blocked off 6th Street between 8th and 6th avenues for roughly three hours, while the nearby New Westminster Secondary school was put on “hold and secure,” and some businesses were evacuated.
The RCMP’s explosive unit assessed the mailbox, and “it was determined that there was no threat to public safety,” the New Westminster Police Department said in an update, adding that officers are now investigating the source of the mailbox tampering.
“We treat every threat as real until we can determine otherwise,” spokesperson Sgt. Andrew Leaver said. “While this does cause a disruption, it’s paramount that we take steps to keep people safe.”
Police thanked residents for their patience and asked anyone with information about the incident to call 604-525-5411.
