Police in Nanaimo are looking for two suspects believed to be the culprits behind an explosion that blew out a car’s windshield.
Mounties were called shortly before 11 p.m. Tuesday when a witness reported two young males setting off what appeared to be fireworks or possibly pipe bombs in the parking lot of a business on Stewart Avenue.
Minutes later, the witness called back saying the youths had put an explosive on a car in the 1200 block of Stewart Avenue, which blew out the car’s windshield. The witness then started chasing the suspects.
Police and firefighters arrived to find a 1999 Mercedes 320 with extensive damage to its hood and windshield.
The witness told police he chased the suspects down Stewart Avenue, but lost track of them near the Chinese Memorial Gardens Park. Mounties searched the neighbourhood, but failed to find the two youths.
Investigators collected evidence from the scene, which is being examined by Nanaimo RCMP’s Forensic Unit to determine what caused the explosion.
The suspects are described as First Nations males, about 14 years old. One was wearing a black shirt and checkered long shorts. The other wore a striped shirt with brown and grey long shorts.
“The Nanaimo RCMP are very concerned about the actions these two suspects are engaging in,” said Sgt. Sheryl Armstrong, Nanaimo RCMP spokeswoman. “The actions these youth are taking are endangering their own lives as well as those of people in the area.”
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.nanaimocrimestoppers.com.
