UPDATE: (11:00 a.m.): the latest information about the incident and suspicious package can be found here.
RCMP are erring on the side of extreme caution as they wait for a Vancouver based bomb squad to assist them in dealing with a suspicious package found in the Orchard Park Shopping Centre on Wednesday.
Photo credit: KelownaNow.
Constable Steve Holmes with the Kelowna RCMP said that the Explosive Disposal Unit is in the vicinity. Upon arrival at the mall, explosive specialists will deal with the imminent issue then help the RCMP in devising a plan to attend to the situation.
“The next step would be to ensure that we search areas to make sure there aren’t any other issues or surprises. We’re just going to clear as much area as we need to, and that is to be determined, so that we can make sure the whole area is safe to allow the public back in. That [process] is going to take some time because as you can imagine, we’re dealing with hundreds of thousands of square feet,” said Holmes.
As of now, an RCMP mechanical robot was seen entering the mall and Holmes said the machine is equipped with articulate arm movement and cameras that will help to further assess the situation before police enter the building.
“Anytime you’re faced with the unknown, you look at what you do know and thread that into your planning and preparation,” added Holmes.
Photo credit: KelownaNow.
An estimated assessment time was not provided, but Holmes did confirm that RCMP will be on scene late into the evening.
Mall employees were sent home, but were asked to stay by their phones in the event that employees were needed to return to the mall. RCMP might ask employees to unlock their respective stores for further inspection.
The Regional District of Central Okanagan and the Salvation Army were on scene to provide employees with snacks and juice, as they were asked to stay at the mall for the majority of the afternoon.
A suspicious package was found in the Sears department store at the Orchard Park Shopping Centre around 2:20 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.
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