Residents in Calgary’s southeast industrial district got more excitement than they bargained for Tuesday afternoon when police conducted a series of controlled explosions that rattled windows and drew curious onlookers to the edges of the police perimeter.
The operation unfolded in an industrial yard near 42nd Avenue and 6th Street S.E., where bomb technicians from the Calgary Police Service carefully detonated what sources described as “potentially hazardous materials” discovered during an ongoing investigation.
“It sounded like thunder, but you could feel it in your chest,” said Marisa Cordeiro, who works at a manufacturing facility three blocks from the scene. “Then there was another one about ten minutes later. Everyone rushed to the windows wondering what was happening.”
Police established a 500-metre safety perimeter around the site while the Explosive Disposal Unit performed what officials called “a standard controlled disposal procedure.” The sounds of the detonations carried across Ogden and into neighboring communities, prompting a flurry of calls to emergency services.
Staff Sergeant Keith Silvester of the CPS addressed media at an impromptu press conference near the scene, emphasizing public safety was never at risk.
“These controlled disposals are conducted with extensive safety protocols,” Silvester explained. “We understand they can be alarming to hear, but I want to assure Calgary residents that these procedures are carried out by highly trained specialists with decades of combined experience.”
While police remained tight-lipped about the nature of the materials detonated, workers from nearby businesses reported seeing specialized vehicles and personnel in protective gear entering the cordoned area throughout the morning.
Calgary Fire Department units stood by as a precautionary measure, though their intervention wasn’t required. Traffic was temporarily diverted from surrounding roads, creating minor congestion along Blackfoot Trail during the afternoon commute.
This isn’t the first time Calgary’s industrial areas have seen such controlled explosions. In 2021, a similar operation was conducted in the Manchester Industrial area after construction crews uncovered unstable chemicals in an abandoned storage facility.
“Sometimes these materials can’t be safely transported to disposal facilities,” explained Dr. Lorna Patterson, a chemical safety expert at Mount Royal University. “In those cases, controlled detonation on-site is actually the safest approach, though it’s understandably alarming for those who aren’t expecting it.”
By early evening, police had scaled back their presence, though investigators remained on scene documenting the area. Officials indicated that more information would be forthcoming once the related investigation reaches an appropriate stage for public disclosure.
For Ahmed Nasser, who owns a small fabrication shop within view of the police operation, the afternoon’s events were a stark reminder of the complex realities of urban safety.
“You don’t think about these things happening so close to where you work every day,” Nasser said, watching as bomb technicians packed up their equipment. “But I’d rather they handle dangerous materials properly than ignore them. That’s what keeps us all safe, even if it means a bit of excitement on a Tuesday.”
Police are asking anyone with information relevant to their investigation to contact the non-emergency line at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
The Calgary Police Service is expected to provide additional details at tomorrow morning’s regularly scheduled briefing at headquarters.
