West Van Safeway evacuated after possible bomb threat received

Photo: Contributed

West Vancouver Police evacuated the Caulfeild Safeway store on Thursday afternoon after staff said they'd received word of a possible bomb threat.

An evacuation is underway at Caulfeild Village Shopping Centre in West Vancouver after a tip was received about a possible explosive device inside the Safeway grocery store (June 17).

Const. Kevin Goodmurphy, spokesman for the West Vancouver Police Department, said police got a call around noon from staff at the grocery store saying they had information that there may be a bomb inside the store. Goodmurphy couldn't say how staff received the information but added police took the threat "extremely seriously."

West Vancouver police officers have contained the area and have evacuated everyone from the Safeway, said Goodmurphy.

Neighbouring businesses are still open and people are being being allowed to leave the parking area for shopping plaza but are not being allowed in.

The RCMP explosives disposal unit and bomb-sniffing dog are on their way to the scene, said Goodmurphy.

He said police don't know why someone would make a bomb threat to the Safeway store but added detectives are working behind the scenes to identify the source.

Police are asking the public to avoid the area until the situation is deemed safe.