Toronto

Toronto police safely detonate and destroy 'suspicious' suitcase near Rogers Centre

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Police closed streets, halted TTC subway service for a time during investigation

The area around the Rogers Centre was packed with pedestrians heading to the Toronto Blue Jays game. (Makda Ghebreslassie/CBC)

Toronto police remotely detonated a suitcase that was left unattended outside the entrance to a hotel connected to the Rogers Centre on Saturday afternoon.

Police spokesperson Katrina Arrogante said the suitcase, found on the property of the Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel, was considered a suspicious package.

The force's chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear explosives (CBRNE) team and bomb technicians safely detonated the bag shortly before 4 p.m.

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"The suitcase was destroyed for safety purposes," Arrogante said, adding that investigators will continue to probe whether it actually contained any explosive or hazardous material.

When the initial report of a suspicious package came through, the area was packed with pedestrians on their way to the Toronto Blue Jays game at the Rogers Centre.

Southbound Blue Jays Way was closed at Front Street and the intersection of Blue Jays Way and Navy Wharf was blocked to vehicular and foot traffic. The closures will remain in place until police can be certain there is no threat to public safety.