In the early hours of a Wednesday morning, a section of Barrie, Ontario, was gripped by chaos and uncertainty after an explosion rattled an Anne Street North parking lot. The incident, believed to involve an improvised explosive device (IED) placed on a vehicle, occurred at approximately 3 a.m., leaving residents alarmed.
According to Peter Leon, the Corporate Communications Coordinator for Barrie Police Services, concerned residents promptly dialed 911 to report a thunderous explosion. Upon arrival, law enforcement discovered two vehicles bearing damages. With safety being a top priority, residents of the adjacent apartment building and those in nearby structures were swiftly evacuated.
Police issued a shelter-in-place directive to the remaining residents in the vicinity, urging them to stay indoors until further notice. Several roads in the area were closed off, including sections of Anne and Wellington Streets, Anne Street and Gibbon Drive, and Leacock Drive and Edgehill Drive.
The situation escalated when the Explosive Disposal Unit arrived at the scene and executed a “controlled detonation” of a device found approximately 10 to 12 feet away from the initial blast. As Peter Leon explained, “We believe at this point there was an explosive device placed upon the motor vehicle parked in the parking lot and that a portion of that device did not explode at the time, became dislodged, and that was the device that was remotely imploded by our explosive unit.” He also mentioned that this unexploded device was discovered in an adjacent garden.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported among residents or emergency personnel, a relief considering the potential for extensive damage. Peter Leon underscored the gravity of the situation, noting the proximity of numerous high-rise apartment buildings, a retirement home, and a neighborhood community to the incident site. He emphasized that this could have had disastrous consequences.
Law enforcement confirmed that a K9 unit thoroughly searched the area to ensure no other explosives were present. While residents would eventually be allowed to return to their homes, no specific timeline was provided.
Peter Leon urged patience from the public, emphasizing that these precautions were taken for the safety and well-being of all. In the evening, some road closures were lifted, but Anne Street southbound from Letitia Street to Edgehill Drive remained inaccessible.
As of the report, no arrests had been made. The investigation is ongoing, with detectives diligently working to identify the person or persons responsible for what was described as a “senseless act of criminal behavior.”
Authorities requested assistance from anyone with information or dashcam footage from the Anne Street and Edgehill Drive area around the time of the incident, encouraging them to contact the police or Crime Stoppers to provide anonymous tips.