The Peterborough County OPP detachment on 453 Lansdowne Street East in Peterborough was temporarily closed yesterday (February 22) while police investigated a possible explosive device contained in a briefcase.
At around 11:30 a.m. on February 22nd, members of the Peterborough County OPP spoke with a man who explained he had received a call about winning a lottery in the United States. The man was told he had won 2.5 million dollars and, in order to receive his winnings, he had to pay $5,000 in tax.
The man also received a locked briefcase and was told that it contained a portion of his winnings. A letter accompanying the briefcase indicated he had to first send the tax money and then he would receive a code to open the briefcase.
The letter also said the briefcase contained an explosive device and any efforts to open it without the proper code would cause the briefcase to explode.
The man brought the briefcase to the Peterborough County OPP detachment. Police closed the detachment to the public and contacted members of Central Region Tactics and Rescue Unit. Members of the Explosives Disposal Unit (EDU) were assisted by TRU in rendering the package safe. There were no explosives in the package.
Police remind members of the public that, if they find any military ordnance or a suspected explosive device, they should not touch, move, or transport the item. They should record any numbers that might appear on the device (this will assist with identification of the item) and call the local police for proper disposal.
Both the OPP and the Canadian Armed Forces have trained experts who will attend the location of the explosive device and can decide the safest method for its removal and disposal.
