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Three of the police officers remain in hospital after Tuesday’s shooting, including one in intensive care, while another will require further surgery.
Police and paramedics are responding Tuesday to a bank robbery at the Bank of Montreal on Shelbourne and Pear streets, where several people were injured in a shooting. Photo by Darren Stone / Times Colonist
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SAANICH – The head of the Saanich police department says explosive devices were found in a vehicle related to the suspects who were shot outside a bank.
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Cap Const. Dean Duthie says an RCMP explosives disposal unit was able to transfer the devices from a vehicle to a local landfill and destroy them.
Six officers were shot and two suspects were killed in the shooting with police yesterday.
Duthie says three of the officers remain in the hospital, including one who is in intensive care, while another will require more surgeries.
He says police are still investigating the possibility of a third suspect, although they do not believe there is any risk to the public.
Police say they are still trying to confirm the identification of the suspects.
On Tuesday, Duthie said the Greater Victoria emergency response team was not far from the Bank of Montreal when the call for the armed robbery arrived and was on the scene in time to deal with the suspects.
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Videos on social media show that dozens of shots were fired and police have created an online site to collect videos made by witnesses.
The incident, described as “chaotic, tragic and violent” by Duthie, began around 11 a.m. Tuesday when officers responded to a report that two heavily armed men had entered the bank at 3600 block of Shelbourne Street. , just south of Cedar Hill Cross. Road.
Numerous officers from Saanich, Victoria and the GVERT responded and came across two suspects who shot at police. Police returned fire and the two suspects died at the scene.
Three Saanich officers and three Victoria officers, all members of the GVERT, were injured. Three officers were expected to be released after treatment, Duthie said. The other three suffered much more serious injuries and were operated on.
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“This is a very difficult day for us here at the Saanich Police Department, for the Victoria Police Department and for the entire Saanich community,” Duthie said at a press conference in the afternoon. “We keep their families up to date and are doing our best to support them as well as support all of our staff.”
Victoria’s acting police chief, Colin Watson, said officers endangered their lives and that the department has been significantly affected.
“There is a sense of sadness and frustration at what has happened, but also a sense of determination to do the best job possible in very difficult circumstances,” Watson said. “This is the kind of event we hope we’ll never see. But that’s also why we offer training and prepare our officers for the worst day, and this is one of those days.”
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Police and paramedics are responding Tuesday to a bank robbery at the Bank of Montreal on Shelbourne and Pear streets, where several people were injured in a shooting. DARREN STONE, TIMES COLONIST jpg
Both police chiefs stressed that officers will continue to respond to calls for help.
“All of our sworn members, civilian members and volunteers are feeling what has happened today and we are here for them and we will continue to be here for them throughout this. Because it will not last a day, two days, it will be long lasting. … We will stay strong and be the police department they depend on every day, ”Duthie said.
It’s unbelievable that no citizen has been injured, Duthie said. GVERT was deployed and close by and his quick response was invaluable, he said.
Police did not say why GVERT were already deployed or whether they had previously received information about the robbery at the bank.
Homes and businesses near the bank were evacuated when police discovered a “potential explosive device” in a vehicle. The BC RCMP explosives disposal unit was called in to deal with the device, but has since left the site.
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Police received “vague information” about a third suspect and searched the area with police dogs and a helicopter, but a shelter order for nearby residents was lifted at 6 p.m. after officers found no further evidence. of another suspect.
Police had no information about the men who were killed, Duthie said.
A dark-haired man, with motorcycle boots, body armor, hockey pants and a military jacket with a Canadian flag on his shoulder, was seen lying motionless in the parking lot off the bench. His body was surrounded by what looked like a discarded tactical police team.
Shortly after 12:30 p.m., about 25 people who had been at the bank during the robbery were escorted by armed officers to a bus waiting for them. Some were crying. Witnesses were taken to police forces for their attention and statement.
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Police and paramedics are responding Tuesday to a bank robbery at the Bank of Montreal on Shelbourne and Pear streets, where several people were injured in a shooting. Photo of Darren Stone / TIMES COLONIST
The crime scene remained behind the police tape Wednesday morning, and Shelbourne Street was closed for three blocks around Cedar Hill Cross Road, with marked and unmarked police vehicles filling the street. The white van of the emergency team was still in the bank parking lot with the doors open.
Charlotte Priest, an assistant at the Lifeline Animal Clinic across Shelbourne Street from the bank, said some of the clinic’s clients heard the shooting and took refuge in the building. “That’s when we realized there was something. So we just closed the shutters and protected ourselves and kept away from the windows.”
A pedestrian also took refuge in the waiting area, Priest said, noting that a police van was parked at the entrance to the clinic.
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“There are many businesses in the area. It’s a little shocking that it happens here.
“Everyone is a little upset.”
Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes posted on Twitter: “Our hearts are with our officers, bank staff and residents.… There are no words to describe how horrible this is.”
In the nearby St. Michael’s University School, a woman said the school was in “safe” mode, with all the outside doors closed and everyone inside.
Megson FitzPatrick’s insurance services office on Shelbourne Street had about 20 employees inside, behind closed exterior doors.
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Witness to Saanich’s robbery: “There’s a boy at the door and he’s carrying an assault rifle”
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Two suspects killed, six officers injured after a shooting at Saanich’s bank
Jacqueline Niemann, who ran the office on Tuesday, said she heard noises but did not immediately recognize the sound as a gunshot. Police cars that arrived at the scene alerted his office of the situation.
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Everyone is safe, he said. “It’s pretty scary.”
Hannah Young, a pharmacy assistant at Heart Pharmacy in Shelbourne Plaza, in front of the bank, said she heard “what a definite shot.” “And he continued. I looked outside and I could see people hiding with their cars in the parking lot.
Young said she was not afraid but was concerned about the safety of people in the area.
“Do we have to close the door? Throw customers in? Close? It was more of a fight or flight response, “Young said.” We saw they were old people sitting outside and we told them they had to come in. They took everyone inside away from the windows in the back half of the pharmacy.
Police and paramedics are responding Tuesday to a bank robbery at the Bank of Montreal on Shelbourne and Pear streets, where several people were injured in a shooting. Photo of Darren Stone / TIMES COLONIST
Jeff Roman, a spokesman for BMO Bank, said in a statement that the company is “deeply saddened” by the incident. “The safety and security of our customers and employees is our priority and our thoughts are with all the people affected by today’s events.”
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Roman thanked the emergency services for their prompt assistance and for helping maintain public safety.
Saanich police are leading the investigation, with the assistance of the RCMP and a Lower Mainland emergency response team, among others.
An Island Health official said medical teams at Royal Jubilee and Victoria General Hospitals were stepping up to respond to the incident. The Jubilee emergency department had briefly restricted access to ensure safety, but neither hospital was under an orange code, which refers to mass casualties, the official said.
“In situations like this, we quickly redistribute staff as needed …