2 Jul 10: Explosion at Trois-Rivieres CFRC

[The Bread Guy]

This from QMI/Sun Media, shared in accordance with the "fair dealing" provisions, Section 29, of the Copyright Act.:

Officials are investigating after an explosion severely damaged a Canadian Forces recruiting centre in Trois-Rivieres, Que., early Friday.

Officials said the blast at the downtown building blew out windows and destroyed inside offices.

No injuries have been reported but damages are considerable, officials said.

Officials on the scene said there was smoke but no flame present following the blast.

A security perimeter has been put up around the building.

Public Safety officials are reportedly waiting for the provincial bomb squad to arrive on the scene.

 

[Michael OLeary]

From the CBC:

Blast hits Trois-Rivières Canadian Forces site

Provincial police are investigating an explosion at a Canadian Forces recruitment office in Trois-Rivières, Que.

The blast happened around 3 a.m. ET Friday. No one was in the building at the time, officials said.

"We're going to be in touch with the people from the Canadian Armed Forces obviously, to establish the amount of damages," Quebec provincial police spokesman Guy Lapointe said.

"But at this point, it's really too early to give any numbers with regards to the amount of damages."

Investigators are working to determine what caused the blast.

 

[hold_fast]

I was going to comment about maybe this was someone who was upset they weren't offered a position or something... but then I remembered all the protests that have been happening over the past week.

 

[The Bread Guy]

A bit more from the National Post ....

Quebec provincial police say there was an explosion at an Canadian Forces recruitment office in Trois-Rivières early Friday morning but no one was injured.

Police said they don’t know what caused the blast yet and no one was in the building when it occurred at 3 a.m.

Sgt. Eloise Cossette of the Sûreté du Québec said the explosion likely occurred inside because of the extent of the damage inside and the fact that many of the building’s windows were shattered.

She said a team of terrorism specialists are heading to the scene to investigate.

Sgt. Guy Lapointe told reporters that a phone call was made to the office shortly before the blast but the content of the call is not known yet.

... and the Canadian Press:

.... The glass doors of the centre have been blown out and police have sent a bomb squad to the scene.

There are also reports police received a bomb threat about half an hour before the explosion, but officials have yet to confirm this.

A large security perimeter has been erected around the building which is near a bus station and a large hotel.

 

[BlueJingo]

Must be some pretty P/O'd ROTP Applicants! Hahaha

 

[Spanky]

Must be some pretty P/O'd ROTP Applicants! Hahaha

Um ya hilarious.  :  Glad no one was hurt and hope that this is a just a one time deal. 

 

[Oldgateboatdriver]

According to radio news report (98.1 FM, who has the premier crime reporter in Québec), the police has now confirmed a 30 minutes warning call. So far, the police indicates only that the glass exterior doors were blown (much less than the hyped up report on SUN), which would tend to indicate a bomb on the outside of building.

I am with Spanky on this one: Hope its a one time deal.

However, there is a conjunction of events here: PQ and BQ kicking up a new campaign to re-kindle independence, bombing happens on Canada Day, Queen's visits (not seen as relevant in Qc) with images of the country going gaga over her, the failed (yes, failed) attempts by the Quebec gang at causing mayhem at the G20 last week-end when the police had the "audacity" to arrest them before they could go out, a large number of disaffected youth outside Montreal and Quebec city and the current general disaffection of quebecers with federal politics confirmed poll after poll. Those (with some adaptations) are the same type of circumstances that caused a small gang of youth to create the FLQ in the late 1960's, save that in the 60's you also had the "romantic" idea of the worldwide "armed class struggle for the national independence" movement (but Che is dead and we are not in a period of massive decolonization as we had after WWII).

Some may be too young to remember this but, before the kidnappings that caused the October crisis, the FLQ's weapon of choice for many years had been bombings against federal institutions: in particular, mailboxes and army recruiting centres.

So I do hope its a one shut deal, but being paranoid (But paranoid enough?) I think it should be thoroughly investigated and, as the bombing happened at a military installation, we should hope that the Provost Marshall will get involved in the SQ investigation to ensure it is done properly to cover any military concerns over this.

 

[TimBit]

However, there is a conjunction of events here: PQ and BQ kicking up a new campaign to re-kindle independence, bombing happens on Canada Day, Queen's visits (not seen as relevant in Qc) with images of the country going gaga over her, the failed (yes, failed) attempts by the Quebec gang at causing mayhem at the G20 last week-end when the police had the "audacity" to arrest them before they could go out, a large number of disaffected youth outside Montreal and Quebec city and the current general disaffection of quebecers with federal politics confirmed poll after poll. Those (with some adaptations) are the same type of circumstances that caused a small gang of youth to create the FLQ in the late 1960's, save that in the 60's you also had the "romantic" idea of the worldwide "armed class struggle for the national independence" movement (but Che is dead and we are not in a period of massive decolonization as we had after WWII).

The Quebec Gang and G20? Hem there were lots of people from elsewhere too. I'm as disgusted as all of you and even in a bit of upset as I have friends who work there and many serving friends from TR. But I don't think it's fair to blame the G20 events on people from Quebec. Now I am, like you, sure this is some nationalist bullcrap.

I come from a very separatist place and I've heard and still hear all the arguments or separatism which I believe are all half-baked  and illogical. On top of that, whoever did this: you're a terrorist. I hope you taste the full extent of the law. If you think guns and bombs will make people see the righteousness of your cause, you're an imbecile.

I have to say I'm ashamed that there are still such ignoramuses and jingoistic bastards coming from the same province as me. There. I said it.  :-[

 

[Ex-Dragoon]

Before fingers are pointed etc let the police conduct the investigation. Consider this your collective warning.

Milnet.Ca Staff

 

[Rogo]

Between the RBC Bombing in Ottawa, the violence in Toronto (Tranna), and this explosion I would not be so surprised if this starts to go down the same direction things did with the FLQ.  I hope it doesn't but if it does it will surely be quite unfortunate.

As the mod mentioned though, we don't know anything yet.  Could be totally unrelated.

 

[Old Sweat]

I wonder why or if there has not been a claim of responsibility that has appeared in the media. I have a couple of theories, but no information to support a conclusion or even an opinion at this time.

 

[Michael OLeary]

http://www.kbsradio.ca/news/14/1164442

Explosion rips through Canadian Forces recruitment centre in Quebec

By: The Canadian Press

TROIS-RIVIÈRES, Qc - An explosion tore through a Canadian Forces recruitment centre in Trois-Rivieres, Que., early today after police received a bomb threat.

Police said there were no casualties from the explosion as the centre was closed when it happened around 3 a.m.

Police confirmed that a bomb threat was received about 20 minutes before the blast. No one has claimed responsibility.

The glass doors of the centre were blown out and police have sent a bomb squad and a canine unit to the scene.

A large security perimeter has been erected around the building which is near a bus station and a large hotel.

The Surete du Quebec is investigating.

 

[tomahawk6]

I hope they catch whoever did it before they kill someone.

 

[karl28]

    I am just glad that no one was killed in the bombing . Also I am like everyone else  hopefully this wont happen again and that the police can catch those responsible for it . 

 

[McG]

A few news reports seem to be speculating that it is anti-Afghanistan terrorism.

Opposition to the Canadian Forces' mission in Afghanistan has been stronger in Quebec than any other province in the country.

A Canadian Press Harris-Decima poll last year found that 54 per cent of Canadians surveyed opposed the government's commitment to have troops in Afghanistan, while 39 per cent supported it. Opposition to Canada's presence in Afghanistan was highest in Quebec, at 73 per cent.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20100702/quebec-explosion-100702/20100702?hub=Canada&s_name=

 

[Oldgateboatdriver]

Timbit, I am not pointing finger at quebecer only for the G20 matter. I was just referring to the fact that a specific group of quebecers were arrested at the university before they could go and "demonstrate", which haas caused a certain local uproar here in Montreal in the "anarchist" and similar circles. This was one particular group, but by no means the sole one in Toronto or an indication all came from Quebec, which the public record clearly counters.

Ex-D: Warning received and understood.

MCG: The Afghanistan situation is currently completely dead in Quebec: Nobody talks about it and everyone is awaiting the "end of the mission", so I do not know what would make those journalist speculate on that.
 

 

[Miller97]

Just read this.. quite disturbing.
http://thespec.com/News/CanadaWorld/article/800512

Blast tears through office after police warned
July 02, 2010

TROIS-RIVIÈRES, QUE.—An explosion tore through a Canadian Forces recruitment centre in Trois-Rivieres, Que., early today after police received a bomb threat.

Police said there were no injuries from the explosion as the centre was closed when it happened around 3 a.m.

Police confirmed that a bomb threat was received about 20 minutes before the blast. No one has claimed responsibility.

The glass doors of the centre were blown out and police have sent a bomb squad and a canine unit to the scene.

A large security perimeter has been erected around the building which is near a bus station and a large hotel.

The Surete du Quebec is investigating.

It is not known what is behind the explosion.

Opposition to the Canadian Forces’ mission in Afghanistan has been stronger in Quebec than any other province in the country.

A Canadian Press Harris-Decima poll last year found that 54 per cent of Canadians surveyed opposed the government’s commitment to have troops in Afghanistan, while 39 per cent supported it. Opposition to Canada’s presence in Afghanistan was highest in Quebec, at 73 per cent.

 

[George Wallace]

Just read this.. quite disturbing.
http://thespec.com/News/CanadaWorld/article/800512

  We know.

 

[Miller97]

Sorry for the double post,
My apologies.

 

[McG]

MCG: The Afghanistan situation is currently completely dead in Quebec: Nobody talks about it and everyone is awaiting the "end of the mission", so I do not know what would make those journalist speculate on that.

I suspect the media speculation is to drive hype & ratings.  There are so many possibilities for motive that nobody should be speculating just yet.