Canada border closed after bomb found (at Peace Arch)

[Newsjock]

Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer

The U.S.- Canada border at the Peace Arch in Blaine has been closed both ways after reports by Canadian authorities that a bomb had been left there.

Canadian customs officials shut down their side of the border at about 8:30 p.m. Sunday when they had discovered an explosive device in a suitcase. Their American counterparts quickly followed suit, and began redirecting traffic to other border crossings, the U.S. Border Patrol reported.

Border patrol agents are referring inquires to the Canadian authorities, who were handling the investigation Sunday night.

Mike Milne, spokesman for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said agents with the Canadian Border Services Agency have found something believed to be an explosive.

Read more: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/374442_border11.html

[Newsjock]

1. More from the Vancouver Sun

Here's a somewhat contradictory report from the other side of the border:
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=1d906484-dbb7-4415-b54e-cc37a383b3cc

Surrey RCMP Insp. Derren Lynch said the border was closed in both directions after a woman who was refused entry into the U.S. claimed she was carrying a "suspicious object in her bag."

The explosives unit was called in to investigate and Lynch expected the border would be reopened within the hour.

"We've diverted traffic away from there right now to deal with it. We're treating it as real but all indications are it's not a legitimate object," Lynch said.

[merwin]

3. I almost drove to Langley today.

I usually go over the truck crossing in Blaine, but this would have caused insane lineups there...

I feel sorry for the people who had to wait in that line

[Newsjock]

2. More from CKNW radio

http://www.news1130.com/news/topstory/article.jsp?content=20080811_004250_8120

Inspector Derren Lench with Surrey RCMP says a woman brought a suspicious package up to the border office.

"She had initially gone to the US crossing, was sent back to the Canadian crossing. At that time, she made a disclosure to the CBSA officials at the border. This is a bag that she had on her person. That disclosure was made; the bag was secured in the parking lot."

He says the threat is being taken seriously.