UPDATE: Police say fireworks parts caused bomb threat, isn’t considered malicious
NANAIMO — RCMP say parts from commercial fireworks are what sparked a significant response at downtown Nanaimo’s tent city on Friday night.
Cst. Gary O’Brien said the bomb squad brought in from the mainland discovered what was originally thought to be a homemade bomb was all items used in commercial fireworks, found in a plastic bag. The bag was originally put into a nearby sharp needles container to put it out of reach.
“Our explosives unit actually us by having it placed in the sharps container, if it had been lit, it could have caused serious damage because of the needles and hard plastics in the box. But that never happened, no one was hurt and everything is back to usual.”
He said it’s unlikely any charges will be laid but RCMP are still investigating.