RCMP are handling the investigation of a house explosion near Nanaimo乌鸦传媒檚 downtown this week because there was a criminal element to the incident.

Police issued a press release Thursday, March 3, asking for any tips that will help in their investigation after a vacant house in the 300 block of Pine Street exploded the night of Sunday, Feb. 27.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 evident that the explosion happened and most likely as a result of natural gas,乌鸦传媒� said reserve Const. Gary O乌鸦传媒橞rien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman. 乌鸦传媒淭he question is why it happened.乌鸦传媒�

He said police, firefighters and utility crews sifted through the rubble the day after the explosion.

乌鸦传媒淔ortunately there was nobody found in the debris,乌鸦传媒� O乌鸦传媒橞rien said.

But as part of the investigation and through consultation with partner agencies, he said police determined 乌鸦传媒渢here乌鸦传媒檚 most likely criminality involved.乌鸦传媒�

乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e looking at the totality of the evidence based on that it was a boarded-up house, nobody should be inside, the fact that we乌鸦传媒檝e attended to the house in the past for squatters,乌鸦传媒� O乌鸦传媒橞rien said.

He said RCMP are reviewing past police files related to the property and at the same time, are hoping to hear from anyone who might be able to provide information that could assist in the investigation.

乌鸦传媒淚f somebody saw anything suspicious within 24-48 hours prior to that explosion 乌鸦传媒� cars, people, noise from that home 乌鸦传媒� we need to hear from those people,乌鸦传媒� he said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP乌鸦传媒檚 non-emergency line at 250-754-2345 and quote file No. 2022-6847.

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