(CARLI BERRY / iNFOnews.ca)
October 02, 2021 - 8:40 AM
Police are investigating a possible swatting incident after the Metrotown area in Burnaby was cleared of any active threats last night after police received a report of shots being fired inside the mall.
The Burnaby RCMP was initially called to the area to assist Transit Police with an investigation that forced the closure of the Metrotown SkyTrain Station just before 3 p.m., Oct. 1, according to an RCMP news release.
Around the same time, a report was received about a possible person with a gun with shots possibly being fired in the mall.
The mall was evacuated and a careful grid search was conducted inside the mall but no threat was found and no injuries were reported, according to the RCMP.
The incident at Metrotown Station was also determined to be unfounded.
The mall was given the all-clear last night.
“We understand this was a dynamic and distressing situation for the public and those in the area, with customers and staff taking shelter in stores in the mall, and others evacuating from the building,” said Cpl. Mike Kalanj, with the Burnaby RCMP, in the press release.
“We are thankful this isn’t a situation that is often faced in Canada, and are grateful this call was unfounded and nobody was hurt.”
The Burnaby RCMP is investigating the source of the call, and whether the incident was related to “swatting,” where fake emergency calls are made to provoke a large response from police and other agencies. Swatting is a criminal offence in Canada.
“As we saw today, these unfounded reports prompt a large response from first responders, who must take these incidents seriously to protect the public,” Kalanj said.
Port Moody Police are also investigating an unfounded incident that happened in their city on Friday. One suspect has been arrested in connection to that incident.
Investigators are working together to determine if there are links between the cases, and whether the same suspect may be responsible.
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