'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
BREAKING Trump chooses anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump says he will nominate anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, putting him in charge of a massive agency that oversees everything from drug, vaccine and food safety to medical research and the social safety net programs Medicare and Medicaid.
LIVE UPDATES Rogers Centre opens its doors to thousands of Taylor Swift fans for the first sold-out show
Taylor Swift is in Toronto to perform her first of six sold-out shows at the Rogers Centre tonight.
Purolator workers won't handle Canada Post packages if strike occurs, union says
Teamsters Canada says if Canada Post workers go on strike or are locked out, its members at Purolator won't handle any packages postmarked or identified as originating from the carrier.
Canada urged to cut government-funded research collaborations with China: report
A newly released report is urging Canada to immediately end all government-funded research collaborations with China in a variety of different areas.
Measles cases in New Brunswick continues to climb
The number of measles cases in New Brunswick continues to climb. Officials with New Brunswick’s Department of Health said as of Thursday, the number of confirmed cases since October has reached 43.
Police release bodycam video of officer-involved incident at Hindu temple protest in Brampton, Ont.
Police say an officer who forcefully removed a 'weapon' from a protester outside of a Hindu temple in Brampton was acting 'within the lawful execution of his duties' after bystander video of the incident circulated widely online.
Here's how a potential Canada Post strike may affect Canadians
A disruption in Canada Post services would hit some Canadians harder than others. As the deadline approaches for a potential strike at midnight Friday, CTVNews.ca asked readers how it would affect them and how they are preparing.
Partial confinement lifted in Longueuil after CN train derailment and chemical spill
The City of Longueuil has partially lifted the confinement measure currently in effect around the site of a CN train derailment near Jacques-Cartier West Boulevard and Saint-Georges Street after the incident spilt an unknown quantity of hydrogen peroxide Thursday morning.
New Pentagon report on UFOs includes hundreds of new incidents but no evidence of aliens
The Pentagon's latest report on UFOs has revealed hundreds of new reports of unidentified and unexplained aerial phenomena but no indications suggesting an extraterrestrial origin.