'No further risk to public safety': Toronto Island Airport reopens after suspicious package probe
Toronto police say they're confident there is "no further risk to public safety" after a suspicious package found attached to a bicycle late Saturday afternoon at the Island Airport’s Ferry Terminal.
In a follow-up news release issued late Sunday morning, police said they believe what happened Saturday evening is an "isolatied incident" and thanked the public for their patience.
"Investigations involving a potentially explosive device are time consuming, as informed decisions must be made for the safety of the public and to protect critical infrastructure," they said.
Shortly before 4 p.m. Saturday, Toronto police responded to a call for a suspicious package at Billy Bishop Airport. The emergency disposal unit was called in.
"Initial tests led EDU officers to believe it may be an explosive device," police said.
As a result, Billy Bishop Airport, the ferry terminal, and two condos at 34 Little Norway and 681 Queens Quay were evacuated. A third residential building at 650 Queens Quay was also partially cleared.
The evacuation caused all operations of Billy Bishop to be suspended. All departing and arriving flights were either cancelled or diverted.
A number of roads in and around the airport were also shut down as police investigated.
Shortly before 11 p.m., Toronto police said a "controlled explosion" was being conducted in the area and residents could expect to hear a "loud bang."
In a tweet posted shortly before midnight, Billy Bishop Airport said the device has been disarmed and Toronto police have concluded their investigation and release the site
Late last night, PortsToronto confirmed that the bicycle was removed from the area and will be closely inspected off-site.
Before 11 p.m. Saturday, police tweeted that a controlled explosion was being conducted in the area and residents could hear a "loud bang."
Residents were allowed to return home shortly after midnight. Roads that were closed due to the aituation reopened in the area at that time, police said.
Police announced a short time later that the area was safe. Nearby roads re-opened and residents were advised that they could return home.
Billy Bishop Airport reopened to the public on Sunday at 6:45 a.m. All flights and operations have now resumed, the airport said in a tweet. Travellers are being advised to check with their airline as some flights may be impacted by the closure.
Two persons of interest were taken into custody Saturday night, but were later released, police said. No charges have been laid.
No further details have been provided about the contents of suspicious package.
With files from Bryann Aguilar.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From essential goods to common stocking stuffers, Trudeau offering Canadians temporary tax relief
Canadians will soon receive a temporary tax break on several items, along with a one-time $250 rebate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
She thought her children just had a cough or fever. A mother shares sons' experience with walking pneumonia
A mother shares with CTVNews.ca her family's health scare as medical experts say cases of the disease and other respiratory illnesses have surged, filling up emergency departments nationwide.
Putin says Russia attacked Ukraine with a new missile that he claims the West can't stop
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Thursday that Moscow has tested a new intermediate-range missile in a strike on Ukraine, and he warned that it could use the weapon against countries that have allowed Kyiv to use their missiles to strike Russia.
Service Canada holding back 85K passports amid Canada Post mail strike
Approximately 85,000 new passports are being held back by Service Canada, which stopped mailing them out a week before the nationwide Canada Post strike.
Taylor Swift's motorcade spotted along Toronto's Gardiner Expressway
Taylor Swift is officially back in Toronto for round two. The popstar princess's motorcade was seen driving along the Gardiner Expressway on Thursday afternoon, making its way to the downtown core ahead of night four of ‘The Eras Tour’ at the Rogers Centre.
Trump chooses Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Gaetz withdraws
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump on Thursday named Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, to be U.S. attorney general just hours after his other choice, Matt Gaetz, withdrew his name from consideration.
Here's a list of items that will be GST/HST-free over the holidays
Canadians won’t have to pay GST on a selection of items this holiday season, the prime minister vowed on Thursday.
Manitoba RCMP issue Canada-wide warrant for Ontario semi-driver charged in deadly crash
Manitoba RCMP have issued a Canada-wide arrest warrant for the semi-driver involved in a crash that killed an eight-year-old girl and her mother.
Mother charged after infant dies in midtown Toronto: police
The mother of an infant who died after being found at an apartment building in midtown Toronto on Wednesday has been charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life.