Posted on 05/29/2012 7:33:48 AM PDT by Antioch
A suspicious device— possibly a pipe bomb— has been found inside a Roman Catholic Church in Brampton this morning and Peel bomb squad officers are in the process of removing it. "We don't know if it's real, if it's live, or if it has already been detonated," said Peel Const. Erin Cooper at the scene on Chinguacousy Road north of Steeles Avenue West. The device was located inside St. Jerome's church just after 9 a.m. Tuesday by police using a special robot. Soon after, word came that there may be another device inside the church. Expolsives Disposal Unit officers prepared to enter the church shortly after the location of the first device. They plan a controlled explosion of it in a barrel on the west side of the building. No homes had to be evacuated, but the west side of the building was cleared of media and onlookers in preparation for the controlled explosion. The drama began to unfold around 4 a.m. when the church custodian arrived and discovered smoke and steam and what he believed was a small fire on the pew. He threw a bucket of water on the pew and called 911. The sprinkler system in the building was also activated, according to police. But when Brampton firefighters arrived they saw the device on the floor. The area was shrouded in smoke and it was dark, but they knew what the device might be and withdrew for safety reasons, according to Assistant Division Fire Chief Gary Jarrett. The custodian was treated for smoke inhalation, but no one else has been reported injured. An ambulance is at the scene on standby. The fire alarm and security alarm were not triggered. There is speculation that someone threw something through a window of the church which started the original fire, but that has not been confirmed. Chinguacousy Road is closed for the investigation. Meanwhile, a townhouse fire in the subdivision under construction at Mississauga Road and Steeles Avenue may or may not be connected, according to Cooper. Police are looking at the possibility. The townhouse fire happened just one hour before the church fire was discovered. The townhouse, on Olivia Marie Road, was under construction and no one was reported injured in that fire.
So glad that nobody was injured. Do you think it was Muslims or some of the usual assortment of nutcakes with an axe to grind against the Catholic Church? (our Pastor was at one point the target of a series of anonymous threatening letters)
Did they announce it’s not a Hate Crime before the investigation?
Are there Amish in Ontario?
Important note: When there is a bomb threat, or worse, a bomb goes off, it is extremely important to steer clear of both emergency personnel and where the bulk of the evacuees are assembling.
If at all possible, leave and keep going until you are far away from the scene. There is nothing there interesting or entertaining enough for you to risk your life from a possible second bomb, fire, fragments, or toxic smoke.
The term “onlooker” has long been associated with “victim”.
To be polite, be sure to tell several of those you know that you are okay, leaving, and not to expect you back for some time.
You sound like you drank too much coffee today and got yourself too excited. Take a nap. It’ll be ok. I promise.
Disturbing, I am a Bramptonite too, though not close to this church, but still...to think we have these kinds of crazies now too.
“The term “onlooker” has long been associated with “victim”.”
Worth repeating.
They are probably so good that he got double A’s in most classes.
Double A’s = AA [as in Affirmative Action]
Are you saying that if your church were pipe-bombed that you wouldn’t be upset?
I would be terrible upset if something like this happened at my church.
Prayers for your priest and staff as they endure the investigations, and for the community to come together to support them.
It’s a well-known terrorist trick to use a small, almost harmless pipe bomb to get the police to respond. Once the first responders and a crowd of on-lookers assembles, the main charge is triggered remotely.
Sort of like putting out a salt lick two weeks before deer season starts.
I wouldn’t be posting a rambling paragraph online about “THEY” bombed my church when I have no evidence whatsoever. Plus mentioning a fire within the town at a home? Cmon. That just reeks of silly paranoia. Let the police do their job.
I will be praying for you and the parish! Amen!
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