Vancouver – Vancouver Police explosives experts rendered inert a suspicious device near Science World on Sunday, delaying the start of the BMO Vancouver Marathon.
“This is extremely concerning, and it appears the device was strategically placed along the half marathon route, where runners would be passing close by,” says Sergeant Steve Addison. “Whoever did this was likely aiming to cause panic or to disrupt the event.”
A marathon volunteer spotted the device shortly after 5 a.m. Sunday and promptly called 9-1-1. Vancouver Police cordoned off the area, and bomb technicians from VPD’s Emergency Response Team were deployed to examine and destroy the device.
The Emergency Response Team determined the device was not at risk of exploding and did not pose an immediate danger to the public, however the race start had to be delayed while the device was rendered inert.
Investigators from VPD’s Major Crime Section, Forensic Identification Unit, and Operations Division are now collecting additional evidence. No arrests have been made.
Photo courtesy of Instagram (BMO Vancouver Marathon)
