Bomb unit detonates explosive at East Kildonan business

Winnipeg police say "anunknown material" detonated Saturday night while the Winnipeg Police Service's bomb unit worked to deactivate an explosive deviceat a business in EastKildonan.

Officers converged on a businessinthe 500 block of Washington Avenue at around 2 p.m. onSaturday.

A police spokesperson said officers were called due to reports of a suspicious package.

"Wow, here? Who would want to bombhere?" said Cheryl Lukasik, wholives on Washington Avenue.

Lukasik saidpolice told her on Saturdaythere was a bomb scare and thatshe hadto leave her houseand the areaimmediately.

"They said we had to vacate the premises, period. We had nowhere to go," said Lukasik. "We had to leave. I couldn't get my puffers; I'm asthmatic, I'm in a walker."

The bomb unit wascalled, and at one pointofficers could be seen with their guns drawn.

Supt. Danny Smyth said at a press conference Sunday the package detonated around 10:30 p.m. Saturday night while the bomb unit was working to deactivate it. No one was injured, but the business was damaged, Smyth said.

The street wasreopened several hours later, but officers were still in the area on Sunday morning.

Lukasiksaid shewas able to stay at a friends house overnight and returned home this morning.

Police confirmedthe event is connected to the bomb that exploded at the Petersen King law office on River Avenue Friday.

• Winnipeg police seek motive in Petersen King law office bombing

• Winnipeg lawyer Maria Mitousis, 38, injured by bomb in law office

The bomb unit has been called to several propertiessince then across the city on reports of suspicious packages. Someof those reportshave been proven to be unfounded.

No more details are available at this time.