A 33-year-old man from Surrey is in custody following a bomb scare at an East Vancouver gas station Thursday evening.

Police say a 911 caller reported a suspicious man at the gas station shortly after 7:00 p.m. PT.

Officers found the man parked in a white cargo van beside a convenience store at the gas station, with a small amount of marijuana and brass knuckles in his pocket.

Police closed down the station at Fraser Street and King Edward Avenue, after finding what they say appeared to be hand grenades in the back of the man's cargo van.

A bomb squad officer examines the suspected explosives in the back of a cargo van. (Gian-Paolo Mendoza/CBC)

"It's the first time I've seen something like this — to be honest I'm quite nervous," said Saul Camargo, who lives right across the street from the station. "It's quite shocking … it's happening in France, it can happen in Canada too."

Saul Camargo lives right across the street from the gas station. (Gian-Paolo Mendoza/CBC)

Controlled explosion

The VPD bomb disposal unit was called out and used a robot to extract the grenades from the back of the van. Officers also found some knives and a tactical vest.

Around 1 a.m. PT, after determining that the grenades were active explosives, officers took them to a nearby park and detonated them in a controlled explosion.

The VPD arrested the man, who is from Surrey, at the scene.