A potentially explosive device found near a school in Nanaimo’s north end yesterday was in fact not dangerous, police determined.
According to Nanaimo RCMP, Pleasant Valley Elementary School went into shelter-in-place protocol the afternoon of Monday, May 13, after a “pipe with caps on both ends” was found on a field on Doumont Road. The shelter-in-place was out of an abundance of caution, police said.
A explosive disposal unit was called in, which found the device was harmless.
Under Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools emergency procedures, a shelter-in-place is enacted when an environmental hazard may impact a school. It involves bringing students and staff inside and securing windows and doors, with instruction continuing as usual inside the school.
In an e-mail, the school district said the object was found “across the street from the school’s field.”
As the situation was still ongoing at 1:45 p.m., parents and caregivers were instructed to pick up students and dismissal took place at the front entrance of the school only.
Police gave the all-clear at 2:30 p.m., the school district stated.
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