Public was never in danger, police say after blowing up suspicious package

OTTAWA – Authorities say the public was never in danger from a package found Tuesday at the entrance to the main Defence Department building in Ottawa.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay says an investigation is underway and more details will be released later.

The suspicious package was found at the north entrance of the National Defence Headquarters in downtown Ottawa.

A chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives team was called in as a busy downtown bridge was sealed off and closed to afternoon rush-hour traffic.

Ottawa police said an X-ray of the package revealed what appeared to be a timing device and an electronic trigger — both consistent with an improvised explosive device, or IED.

The package was sprayed with water cannon, and eventually removed by a robot and later detonated.

Ottawa police, the Mounties and Military Police are all involved in the investigation.