Police uncovered yet another suspicious package inside the Amazing Party Store late Tuesday afternoon, bringing to seven the number of suspicious devices found there since Friday night.
The latest package was discovered by investigators who were combing through the Etobicoke costume store after a sixth suspicious package was found around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, said Toronto police Staff Sgt. Jim Walker
The fifth suspicious package was also found early Tuesday, around 5 a.m. In a news release, police confirmed that the first six devices had been safely defused without injuries to people or damage to the store.
The bomb squad was on the scene to examine the seventh package, which CP24 news reported was found in a black leather bag. At this point, police do not know how or when the packages got into the store. It is unknown if all of them were planted at once or over time.
“The items are sophisticated and are capable of causing serious bodily harm or death,” said Insp. Gerry Cashman. He added “they are the real deal,” and put together by someone who knows what they are doing.
Amazing Party Store has been shut down since Monday night, when police bomb squad officers were called in to investigate a fourth suspicious package that was found around 7:30 p.m.
It reopened Monday morning after bomb scares Friday and Saturday forced it to close for most of the weekend.
Councillor Mark Grimes of Etobicoke-Lakeshore says the situation is regrettable and shocking.
“We recognize that many local businesses have been closed and suffered lost revenue due to this investigation, and thank them for their cooperation during this difficult time,” said Grimes. “I have every confidence in the Toronto Police Services that they will resolve this matter in a timely manner.”
Store owner Shawn Hamilton had estimated he lost more than $300,000 in business during the lucrative run-up to Halloween.
“It is business terrorism because I was targeted on the three most important days of my year,” Hamilton said. “We can never get those sales back because this Halloween season is over, Saturday being the most crucial day because that’s when most of the parties are on.
“Myself personally, my family, my staff and my customers were terrorized from the suspicious packages that were left at our store.”
As of Monday, the Toronto police organized crime unit took over the investigation, said spokesman Victor Kwong.
The chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear unit dismantled the first package, and the explosive disposal unit (part of the Emergency Task Force) took apart the four other packages.
Police are unclear whether the devices posed a danger but dismantled them because “they couldn’t determine that it wasn’t harmful,” said Kwong. He could not specify the type of explosives found.
With files from Gustavo Vieira and Kirsten Parucha and Peter Edwards
http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/article/1079286--sixth-suspicious-package-found-at-halloween-party-store
