RCMP investigates after ‘home-made’ explosive goes off in Coquitlam

Coquitlam RCMP is working to determine the exact circumstances leading to the detonation of a home-made explosive in the 1400-block of Ross Avenue at around 7:20 p.m. on Tuesday night.

“There was a loud — it sounded like a gunshot, I didn’t think much of it,” said a neighbour who told Global News he was leaving his home at the time.

“When we came back there was five or six cops pulling up at the end of our street. Ambulances, fire trucks all over.”

A man that police describe as a “resident of the area” suffered serious injuries, but is expected to recover. That person has not been identified.

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“This is what we call a home-made or improvised explosive… This is something that can be made with household materials or materials you’d find in a store,” said Cpl. Michael McLaughlin.

“This is not a commercial-grade or military-grade explosive we’re talking about here… In terms of where those materials came from, why they’re there, why it went off, we still need to answer all of those questions.”

McLaughlin said the home in question had no previous history with police.

On Tuesday evening, explosives experts located and disposed of at least one other “item of serious concern” found on site.

The explosives detonation unit and experts on blast reconstruction remained on site on Wednesday.

McLaughlin added that police believe there is no immediate public safety concern associated with the blast.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact Coqutilam RCMP at 604-945-1550.