Downtown St. Paul was on alert, with businesses evacuated and emergency vehicles cordoning a block on main street after a bomb threat was called in on Monday afternoon to the Value Drug Mart location in St. Paul. At about 2:30 p.m.
Downtown St. Paul was on alert, with businesses evacuated and emergency vehicles cordoning a block on main street after a bomb threat was called in on Monday afternoon to the Value Drug Mart location in St. Paul.
At about 2:30 p.m., RCMP received word that a bomb threat was called in to the Value Drug Mart in St. Paul.
However, the store had moved to a new location, and the threat specified its previous address, which now houses the Maggie Porozni Foundation for the Arts studio.
“It sounded like the person calling didn’t know the location had moved,&” said Cpl. Robert Kuehn, with St. Paul RCMP. “(We) definitely treated it as a real incident. We take it very seriously. First we want to ensure the public safety and get everyone out of the immediate area.&”
Members of the RCMP evacuated the businesses near the studio, between 48th Street and 49th Street, and St. Paul Fire Department was placed on standby. According to an RCMP press release, the Explosives Disposal Unit from K Division was contacted and local members received information about searching the studio. At 3:49 p.m., the studio was deemed safe and employees from the surrounding businesses were allowed to return to their places of work.
The incident marked the second time in less than a week where Alberta RCMP members responded to a bomb threat, with Wetaskiwin RCMP members responding to a similar threat at a Value Drug Mart in that city. That store was deemed safe after an hour and a half search of the location.
When asked if the two incidences were involved, Cpl. Kuehn said that possibility is still under investigation. “Given the circumstances, I would assume they are,&” he said.
The investigation into the bomb threat is ongoing. St. Paul RCMP is seeking public assistance and request that anyone with information regarding this incident or the identity of the suspect(s) contact Cpl. Kuehn at 780 645-8870.
If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222 8477, or report it online at www.tipsubmit.com. If the information leads to an arrest, tipsters are eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.
