Police confirm suspicious item found in Kelowna parking lot not a bomb

A suspicious item found in a Kelowna business's parking lot was investigated by police and found not to pose a threat. 

Kelowna RCMP responded to a report of a suspicious item found in the parking lot of a business in the 1500-block of Banks Road Nov. 22, 2020.

“The initial report to police prompted an immediate shut down of the surrounding roads, as information suggested that the item closely resembled an explosive device," Const. Solana Paré said in a release. “Front line officers conducted a risk assessment at the scene and chose to evacuate the nearby business out of an abundance of caution.”

The B.C. RCMP Explosives Disposal Unit and Kelowna Police Dog Services assisted in the investigation, which confirmed around 2 a.m. that the device did not contain any explosives and was not a threat to the area.

The parking lot, surrounding roads and businesses in the area have since been reopened.

The police investigation into who deposited the item in the area remains underway at this time. Anyone with any additional information is asked to contact the Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300.

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