A Quebec group is claiming responsibility for a blast that tore through a military recruitment centre in Trois-Rivieres early Friday morning. No one was hurt in the explosion.

The group, which is called Resistance internationaliste, said that it is fighting against multinational corporations and so-called "imperialism" in Afghanistan.

"This operation against recruitment centres is our resistance to the brainwashing and the intensive soliciting by the army of youths confronted with the emptiness of a degrading society," said the group's statement, which was sent to the media Friday.

"As for the soldiers of the Canadian army, let's be clear -- in no way are they 'ours.' They belong to the person they stupidly swear allegiance to: Her Majesty Elizabeth."

Provincial police Sgt. Eloise Cossette, however, would not confirm details of the blast.

The group is opposed to the practices and military ideals of the Canadian state, and has already carried out two bombings in Quebec, CTV's Derek Conlon reports from Montreal.

In 2006, a group called "Initiative de resistance internationaliste" took credit for torching a car belonging to an executive with the Canadian Petroleum Products Institute outside her home.

The same group also said it was responsible for bombing a Hydro-Quebec tower in the Eastern Townships in 2004.

The Canadian Armed Forces centre was closed when the blast went off around 3 a.m., just moments after authorities received a bomb threat. The centre's entrance was left a charred mess.

Despite the blast, Canadian Forces spokesperson Maj. Paule Poulin said there are no plans to ramp up security at recruiting centres.

"There's not really an increased security posture at Canadian Forces' establishments at this time because, although the incident is unfortunate, it seemed to be isolated," she told The Canadian Press.

"I'll leave that to the Surete de Quebec (Quebec provincial police), who lead the investigation."

David Leblanc, who lives across the street from the centre, said he was about to play a computer game when he heard the blast.

"I went outside right away," he told The Canadian Press, noting patrons from a nearby bar had already flocked to the site. "I thought my brick wall had fallen down."

Leblanc said he suspected a natural gas leak was to blame, and was afraid to come near the building. He smelled smoke but didn't see any flames.

The area around the centre has been cordoned off by police while a bomb squad and canine unit scour the scene.

"We have explosives technicians, crime specialists, dogs," Cossette said. "These are the resources we will be contributing during the day with the goal of obtaining as much information as possible to solve this crime."

Canada's mission in Afghanistan has drawn fierce opposition in Quebec, more so than in any other province.

A Canadian Press Harris-Decima poll last year showed 54 per cent of Canadians contacted disagreed with the government's decision to have troops in Afghanistan, while 39 per cent approved of it. In Quebec, opposition reached 73 per cent.

That the explosion so quickly followed the threat "says that we've got somebody who's very, very serious," says Michel Juneau-Katsuya, a former intelligence officer with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.

Bombings have grown more frequent as fringe groups realize explosions "take all the attention of the media," he told CTV News Channel from Ottawa.

"And that is what they are trying to do – to promote the idea, not to try to hurt anybody," he said. "But when you play with fire, it's only a matter of time before somebody can be hurt, or worse, killed."

Juneau-Katsuya said fringe groups have carried out 11 bombings nationwide since 2004: six in British Columbia, three in Alberta and two in Quebec. Today's explosion would be the 12th, he said.

With files from The Canadian Press