Police say a “suspicious device” that prompted the evacuation of a number of businesses, as well as part of the Peter Lougheed Centre hospital, was rendered safe as of 2 p.m. Thursday.
Officers were called to the London Town Square strip mall at about 9:50 a.m. for reports that a suspicious package had been found behind the mall.
Businesses in the mall, as well as hospital staff and patients in north-facing rooms of the hospital, were evacuated as a precaution as a number of police resources and the Calgary Fire Department rushed to the scene.
ATCO Gas was also called to shut off gas lines near the device.
Calgary police brought in a bomb disposal robot to inspect and clear the device, tweeting just after 1:15 that the device had been “rendered safe.”
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“If you were in the area and heard a loud bang, that was us removing the package,” CPS tweeted.
Photos of the exploded device showed various pieces of debris on the ground, including several marbles.
A police inspector told Global news Friday the incident was actually part of a geocaching game or online treasure hunt.
Officers have spoken with the person responsible and found there was no ill intent and no charges are being laid.
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