A road was shut down and some people were evacuated from their homes in New Westminster Thursday afternoon after someone found a potentially explosive device. The New Westminster Police Department says officers rushed to the 300 block of Ash Street after receiving a 911 call around 4 p.m. The block was closed to traffic and the residents of a nearby building were asked to leave, police said. The B.C. RCMP Explosives Disposal Unit moved the device to a safe location, according to a Friday news release, which states the police operation took about three hours. “We’d like to thank residents for their co-operation as we worked to ensure their safety,” said Sgt. Andrew Leaver, in the release. “We treat every threat as real until we can determine otherwise. While this does cause a disruption, it’s paramount that we take steps to keep people safe.” It is unclear whether the device was indeed explosive. Police say experts are examining the device and the investigation is in the early stages. The department thanked residents for their patience and asked anyone with information about the suspected explosive to call police at 604-525-5411.
