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Police find evidence of ‘illicit drug production’ in Kitchener home where explosion occured

Click to play video: 'Family injured in Kitchener home explosion'
Family injured in Kitchener home explosion
Family injured in Kitchener home explosion – Jan 19, 2023

Waterloo Regional Police say they expect to lay criminal charges in connection to the explosion which took place at a home in Kitchener on Wednesday.

They say police conducted a search at the home on Wednesday after taking over the investigation after Ontario’s Office of the Fire Marshal deemed the explosion to be “criminal in nature.”

“During the search warrant, evidence was seized from the home that is consistent with illicit drug production,” a police release read.

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Police say the man and woman who lived at the home remain in hospital with serious injuries.

Police still have not provided the cause of the explosion or what led to the decision by the fire marshal to declare it to be a criminal matter.

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On Wednesday, emergency services were dispatched to a townhouse on Elm Ridge Drive near Queen’s Boulevard after several calls were received about the explosion at around 11:40 p.m., according to police.

Police say an explosion occurred inside the home, causing extensive damage.

“The two neighbouring units also sustained significant structural damage,” Const. Bradley Hickey told Global News. “Two adult individuals were transported to an out-of-region hospital with serious injuries. Two children were also transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.”

Kitchener Fire Chief Robert Gilmore said there was “extensive” damage to the residence but was unable to provide a cause of the explosion.

“The fire marshal is on scene now,” he told reporters Thursday.

“They’ll probably be well into tomorrow and maybe the next day before there’s a cause determined.”

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