Make-shift explosive goes off outside Abbotsford town house complex

A small make-shift explosive device was detonated at an Abbotsford residence early Saturday morning, causing a loud bang and some damage to property, but no injuries according to Abbotsford Police Department.

The police were called regarding a report of the explosion at the rear of a town house unit in a housing complex in the 33200 block of Maclure Road in Abbotsford. Abbotsford police’s patrol division officers and K9 units attended the scene and confirmed that though there was some damage to property, no one was injured in the incident.

Police don’t have a clear motive for the explosion yet, but preliminary information with regard to the nature of the explosive device suggests that the aim was to draw attention rather than cause injury, said Abbotsford police public information officer Constable Ian MacDonald.

“It looks like whoever detonated this device had the intention of attracting the intention of either the owner, the current occupants or people who frequent the suite…it didn’t have enough load to cause a major damage,” he said.

MacDonald also said that the residence had previously been attended to by the Abbotsford police but wouldn’t say why. Though there is just one person on the residence’s rental agreement, according to neighbours it was used by several other people, he said.

At the time of the explosion, three adults were present at the residence and the police are questioning them in an attempt to determine a motive. At the same time, the possibility that the blast was related to any of the number of people who frequented the place cannot be precluded, added MacDonald.

“One of the things we are trying to determine is how many people live there… we’re trying to put together a list of people who could have connections with the suite…”

It was too early to say if the explosion was gang-related or if any of the people had gang affiliations, said MacDonald when questioned in this regard.

The Major Crime Unit (MCU) of the Abbotsford Police department has taken over the investigation and patrol division officers, forensic identification unit members and the RCMP Explosives disposal unit is assisting.

Anyone with information is asked to call Abbotsford Police at 604-859-5225 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.