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Two suspected pipe bombs found in South Surrey in two days

SOUTH SURREY — Police were called about two suspected pipe bombs in South Surrey last week, first to a rural property and then to a gas station.

On Tuesday (Jan. 20), a group of workers demolishing a building on a rural property in the 18300-block of 24th Avenue found something suspicious in a shed. Police say it appeared to have been there for some time.

The Explosive Demolition Unit was called in and confirmed the device was a pipe bomb. Using a remote, they detonated the bomb on the property.

Police say because it was a rural property, no one was evacuated.

Then, on Wednesday night, a suspected pipe bomb was found at a Petro-Canada gas station at 2692 152nd St.

Shortly before 8 p.m., staff called police saying there was a suspicious item beside the service station.

Police suspected it, too, was a pipe bomb. The gas station and surrounding area was evacuated and a portion of King George Boulevard was shut down for about an hour.

“It was a metal pipe with noticeable wires sticking out of it,” said Cpl. Bert Paquet.

The Explosive Demolition Unit was called in and, using a robot, confirmed it was not a live bomb.

Police want to know how the item ended up there, and are calling for witnesses.

The item has been seized for further analysis, as well as for forensic examination.

Paquet said it was alarming to find such an item near a gas station. “If you find this in an empty field, it’s a lot easier to control a safe perimeter. Next to a gas station on a busy street is a big safety concern.”

Anyone who may have seen someone hanging around the station or drop something off near the side of the building is asked to call police at 604-599-0502. To remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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