A false alarm cleared the Kelowna courthouse Thursday morning and shut down a city block outside the hotel where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is attending Liberal caucus meetings.
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A 91Ƶsuspicious package91Ƶ was found outside the courthouse where the high-profile gang shooting trial of Jonathan Bacon is being held.
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Courthouse staff were evacuated at 9:20 a.m. and a block of Water Street was taped off.
91ƵKelowna RCMP were called to the courthouse for a report of a suspicious package that was found in the grass along Water Street,91Ƶ said Cpl. Tania Carroll.
91ƵThe courthouse and businesses in close proximity were evacuated as the safety of the public is paramount. The RCMP needed the area clear to conduct their investigation.91Ƶ
Just under an hour later, police left the scene and the tape was pulled down as the it was deemed a false alarm.
91ƵAt approximately 10:15 a.m., investigators with the help of the Kelowna RCMP Police Dog Services section, deemed the area safe, the item has been removed from the area and the displaced public have been allowed to return,91Ƶ added Carroll.
RCMP say the item will only be described as non dangerous in nature.
91ƵThis type of report is taken very seriously by the RCMP and all precautions were taken to protect the general public, and as soon as the area was deemed safe, the public was allowed to return,91Ƶ stated Const. Lesley Smith.
carmen.weld@bpdigital.ca
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