Abbotsford Police shut down an area in the 2700 block of Garden Street after receiving a report of a suspicious device early this morning.
At 9:15 a.m. staff at a business in that area called police after an employee spotted a suspicious device at the back of the property, which houses some auto-related businesses.
Police shut down the area to traffic and evacuated neighbouring businesses until a proper assessment of the device could be made. The RCMP explosive disposal unit was called in with its robot, and the item was blown up using a water cannon.
A witness on the scene described the device as a white plastic tube that had been taped up with nails inside. No explosive was in the pipe, but Sgt. Casey Vinet said there were some materials inside consistent with what could be found in a pipe bomb.
He said police are now trying to determine whether the item was left as a prank and are hoping to identify the person, or people, responsible.
“Whoever is responsible for planting this device wanted people to think this was a functional explosive,” Vinet said.
Traffic on Garden Street between South Fraser Way and Simon Avenue was closed off for several hours, but has since been re-opened.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Abbotsford Police Department at 604-859-5225 or text abbypd (222973).
