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VIDEO: Robot explodes possible fragment at Barrie bomb scene

City police continue to investigate bomb call on Anne Street; no injuries reported in early morning incident
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A remotely navigated bomb-squad robot watches as an officer wearing a protective suit inspects a damaged vehicle during an investigation in Barrie on Wednesday morning.

Police used a remote-controlled robot to detonate what is believed to be a fragment of an improvised explosive found early Wednesday morning on Anne Street in Barrie.

City police officials have confirmed there was an explosive placed in the gas-cap area of a vehicle in the Anne Street apartment building's parking lot. The explosive device blew up shortly before 3 a.m., on Sept. 27.

After receiving calls from area residents about an explosion in the wee hours of the morning, officers cordoned the area around the foot of the Anne Street hill near the bridge over Highway 400.

Officers later found what they believe was a piece of the original explosive in a nearby garden area. 

At around 8:45 a.m., a shielded robot was used to purposely detonate what appeared to be a cylindrical device in the apartment parking lot at 108 Anne St. N., creating a loud explosion. Dust came off the device and the robot was jostled from the explosion. 

Around 10 a.m., an officer with the explosive disposal unit could also be seen inspecting vehicles in the parking lot near Edgehill Drive.

One of the vehicles in the parking lot, a white SUV, had a large amount of damage around its gas cap on the driver's side as well as a flattened rear tire.

About 30 minutes later, what appeared to be a bomb-sniffing police dog was let loose in the parking lot and checked several vehicles.

No injuries have been reported.

The investigation is ongoing. 



Kevin Lamb

About the Author: Kevin Lamb

Kevin Lamb picked up a camera in 2000 and by 2005 was freelancing for the Barrie Examiner newspaper until its closure in 2017. He is an award-winning photojournalist, with his work having been seen in many news outlets across Canada and internationally
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