Police detonate device in Amherst after 2 large blasts this week
Police chief says there's no evidence to suggest those responsible are intentionally looking to harm others
CBC News · Posted: Dec 09, 2020 8:37 AM AT | Last Updated: 18 minutes ago
Amherst Police were on scene detonating an explosive device near Rotary Park on Agnew Street early Wednesday morning. (Paul Palmeter/CBC)
Police in Amherst, N.S., say a explosive device was successfully detonated by police Wednesday after it was found in a local park by officers investigating the early-morning explosion of another device just four blocks away.
The two incidents on Agnew Street come just days after another explosion on Monday shook homes on Rupert Street, near the intersection with Agnew Street.
The town's police chief, Dwayne Pike, would not say Wednesday what the devices were, but said there is currently no evidence to suggest anyone is trying to intentionally harm others. No one has been injured and there's been no property damage.
"It's still very concerning, as you can imagine," Pike said.
"There's no targeted threat or immediate threat except these things happened in public areas, they usually happened late at night when there was no one around. But there's always a concern that somebody could walk by or drive by or even people that are responsible for this could cause some serious harm or death to themselves."
Pike said police were called around Wednesday 2:40 a.m. after a device detonated near the Armoury building, a loud explosion that woke many in town.
During a search, police located a second device, in Rotary Park, that had not gone off. The RCMP explosive disposal unit was called to the scene. Pike said they successfully detonated the second device around 9 a.m.
Pike wouldn't say whether Wednesday's devices were similar to the one Monday. He said it was still early in the investigation but police would expect the two incidents to have a connection.
Monday's incident happened just after 10 p.m. Police said they received "numerous calls about a large blast that was heard throughout town."
Police said officers found debris from a detonated device near the intersection of Agnew and Rupert streets. The town's mayor said the Wednesday and Monday explosions happened about three blocks apart.
"I haven't been able to be in touch with my police chief to get a formal briefing, but I know now this is looking more serious and is going to be fully and thoroughly investigated," said Mayor David Kogon.
Kogon said he didn't personally hear either of the blasts, "but numerous people certainly did."
"It was obviously a very audible event to a lot of people," he said.
No one was hurt in either incident and there were also no reports of property damage, according to police.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Amherst Police Department at (902) 667-8600 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
