A suspect arrested in connection to an explosion at the Saskatoon Provincial Court building allegedly told police he “would finish the job.”

Rodney James M. Wilkie, a Saskatoon man, was arrested Sunday. The 44-year-old was apprehended following a call to Saskatoon police about 10 hours after the late Wednesday night explosion, according to Insp. Randy Huisman.

“Initially, officers were investigating the explosion,” Huisman said. “However, a threatening call was made to the Saskatoon police communications unit in which a man stated he would finish the job at the courthouse.”

Wilkie made his first court appearance Monday morning in the same building where the explosion occurred. He is charged with intent to cause an explosion to cause serious bodily harm, death or property damage. He’s also facing charges of recklessly cause damage by explosion, mischief, threats to cause damage, and two counts of obstructing justice.

He was known to police and is the only suspect at this point, according to Huisman, who did not speak on a potential motive for the alleged offences.

“The investigation involved video surveillance, witness accounts, physical evidence and the execution of a search warrant involving two homes and a vehicle,” Huisman said.

A home on the 1800 block of Kilburn Avenue and a home on the 3800 block of Fairlight Drive, as well as a vehicle, were searched over the weekend.

The explosion, which prompted a heavy police response near 19th Street and Third Avenue South overnight Wednesday and into Thursday morning, left the entrance to Kilborn Place visibly damaged. Kilborn Place, where small claims matters are heard, shares the building with the courthouse.

Logan Tufts, owner of The Woods Ale House in downtown Saskatoon, witnessed the explosion.

“It really shook me. It was really loud,” he said.

Tufts was biking home and noticed a fire at the doors of Kilborn Place. He snapped a photo and tried calling 911, but the call dropped.

He then pulled over to a median at the intersection before trying the emergency call again. The fire was growing.

“It just got bigger and bigger,” he said.

He was looking down when the explosion occurred.

“When I looked up, the whole front of the door was gone,” said Tufts, who was able to reach 911 immediately after the explosion.

“It was pretty intense.”

No one was injured, according to police.

Huisman reiterated Monday police do not believe the explosion is linked to any recent suspicious package reports, but said officers are still working to determine if the explosion is tied to an incident in February in which a backpack containing fireworks and Roman candles was left sitting on the ground on the 200 block of 19th Street East.

Wilkie is scheduled back in court Wednesday for a bail hearing.