No explosives found during police search of northeast Edmonton home; evacuated residents can return

Edmonton police say no explosives or volatile chemicals were found during Wednesday’s search of a northeast Edmonton that prompted the evacuation of dozens of residents.

The Edmonton Police Service says it came to that conclusion after testing the materials found in the home at a townhouse complex on Habitat Crescent – near 50 Street and 131 Avenue.

Authorities say the site has been deemed safe for the return of all evacuated residents of 46 households. Their return will be coordinated by the Red Cross.

“The EPS recognizes the inconvenience this has caused, and is grateful to all evacuees for their cooperation,” police said in an afternoon update on the operation, which began at 7 a.m.

A chemical cleanup company was contracted to remove the remaining materials that remain.

Authorities first became aware of the possibility of hazardous materials on April 26 when officers conducted a welfare check on a suicidal man living at the home. Police say officers observed unknown chemicals and substances, as well as materials known to be precursors in manufacturing explosives.

“The chemicals could be related to the harvesting of precious metals off electronics,” Insp. Sean Anderson told CityNews Tuesday. “Some of them are precursors to explosives, so until we go in and do a proper search of the residence, we don’t know what we’re dealing with.”

The property was then secured and held as a crime scene by police, who determined there was no immediate threat to public safety “until (the materials) are removed from the residence.”

Police say it took nearly two weeks to begin removing the chemicals because EPS had to consult with hazmat and bomb disposal experts across the country.

The man was not known to police, and it’s not yet clear if or when charges are expected.

Police are continuing to investigate.

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