Calgary police cordoned off an area near two schools in the southeast community of Acadia on Thursday after a suspicious device was found in a vehicle parked behind a home.
Police responded to a complaint of an agitated person in an alley off 94 Avenue and 5 Street S.E. just before 9 a.m.
“During the course of their conversations with him, he made some comments regarding the fact he had a hand grenade,” Acting Sgt. Nigel Nelson said. “On speaking with him further, the male told the members that, in fact, it was in a nearby vehicle.”
As a precaution, two schools in the neighbourhood, Acadia and David Thompson, were put on external lockdown. Students, staff and parents were kept inside while police dealt with the situation.
In a letter sent home to parents, Acadia School Principal Lisa Bartel said students were safe and completing their school day as per usual, though afternoon Kindergarten classes were cancelled.
The police tactical unit was called in to confirm the explosive device was real and a robot was used to retrieve it.
“From what the tactical unit members were able to tell me,” Nelson said, “it would appear it was a Second World War hand grenade and it was a live hand grenade.”
When the grenade was recovered, police removed roadblocks and the schools were taken off lockdown after three hours.
Parents like Adam Hickey said they were impressed with the response.
“It looked like a really quick response,” he said. “CPS was keeping the parents that were stuck inside well updated on everything and through Twitter and everything else, parents were talking and letting everyone know the kids were alright.”
One man was taken into custody and the investigation is ongoing, according to Calgary police.