Edmonton

Edmonton residents cleared to return home after no dangerous substances found by police

Police on Tuesday asked residents in the Homesteader neighbourhood to evacuate on while unknown chemicals and substances were removed from a unit.

People living in 46 townhomes were told to evacuate Tuesday

men in hazmat suits with men in EPS uniforms in front of gray townhomes
Police searched a northeast Edmonton townhome for explosives or volatile chemicals Wednesday. (Submitted by Edmonton Police Service)

No explosives or volatile chemicals were found during the investigation of an Edmonton townhouse that prompted the evacuation of residents from 46 other townhomes.

Edmonton Police Service asked residents in the Homesteader neighbourhood to evacuate on Tuesday while they removed unknown chemicals and substances from a unit on 50th Street and Hermitage Road.

In a statement released Wednesday, police said the site is safe for residents to return.

"The EPS recognizes the inconvenience this has caused, and is grateful to all evacuees for their co-operation," the statement read.

Police on Tuesday said unknown chemicals were found on April 26 while doing a welfare check on the man living in the townhouse. There was a concern that some materials in the townhouse could be chemical precursors used in manufacturing explosives.

A chemical cleanup company was hired to remove the materials that remain and the Red Cross is co-ordinating the return of residents, the statement said.

EPS said it continues to investigate.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emily is a reporter with CBC Edmonton. She can be reached at [email protected].