Bomb threat made to BC NDP campaign office in Campbell River

The BC NDP received a bomb threat at its Campbell River campaign office Friday, a spokesperson for the party’s campaign tells 1130 NewsRadio.

Leader David Eby was in Campbell River for a pair of campaign events Friday afternoon; however, a BC NDP spokesperson said they can’t link the threat to Eby’s presence in the community.

“A campaign manager for the BC NDP received a bomb threat while working at the Campbell River campaign office yesterday afternoon,” spokesperson Heather Stoutenburg said.

“Police were immediately alerted and our staff was asked to temporarily vacate that campaign office.”

BC RCMP Corp. Brett Urano confirms a threat was received.

“Out of an abundance of caution, a polling station was temporarily closed to ensure public safety,” Urano said.

“Police were able to confirm through the investigation that the threat was not credible, and therefore there was never any actual risk to the public.”

1130 NewsRadio first heard about the issue through a tip from a caller who says Mounties stopped him and others from entering the advanced voting poll at the Coast Discovery Inn in Campbell River Friday evening.

The BC NDP campaign office is located nearby. The caller reported the parking lot for the Tyee Plaza shopping mall was blocked by police for several hours.

Elections BC says it is aware of a police incident in the parking lot near that advanced voting station.

“We have heard from a political party that some voters were unable to access the advance voting place at the Coast Discovery Inn during this incident,” it said in a statement.

“We have not heard from any voters about this directly.
The advance voting place at the Coast Discovery Inn continued to serve voters during this incident, though less than earlier in the day.”

When asked about the threat in Langley, Eby called it “absolutely shameful,” saying violence has no place in our politics.

“We’re supportive of the police’s effort to investigate this, and I hope they get the bottom to the bottom of it, arrest this person and charge them,” he said.