UPDATE: Kamloops courthouse threat prompts evacuation, lockdown

The Kamloops courthouse was locked down Thursday morning as police were called to a bomb threat to the building.

Police dogs, including dogs trained to trace explosives, scoured the building on June 19, but police found no bomb in the building. Employees were allowed back inside by 2 p.m.

Multiple reports claimed there was a bomb threat to the building. While police would only confirm there was a threat without describing its nature earlier in the afternoon, Kamloops RCMP later confirmed someone called to claim an explosive could go off inside. 

Spokesperson Const. Sofie Winkels said officers cleared the building around 9 a.m. out of an “abundance of caution.” Now that it’s deemed safe, police continue to investigate who called in the threat.

BC Sheriffs guarded the area outside the courthouse for most of the day, while police searched the building. Access to the surrounding Interior Health and provincial government buildings was restricted while police searched the courthouse.

— This story was updated with more information at 1:41 p.m., June 19, 2025.

— This story was updated with more information from Kamloops RCMP at 3 p.m., June 19, 2025.

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Levi Landry

Levi is a recent graduate of the Communications, Culture, & Journalism program at Okanagan College and is now based in Kamloops. After living in the BC for over four years, he finds the blue collar and neighbourly environment in the Thompson reminds him of home in Saskatchewan. Levi, who has previously been published in Kelowna’s Daily Courier, is passionate about stories focussed on both social issues and peoples’ experiences in their local community. If you have a story or tips to share, you can reach Levi at 250 819 3723 or email LLandry@infonews.ca.