TORONTO (HPD) — Flights at Toronto Island Airport were grounded Saturday and passengers ordered to evacuate after police alerted them to the discovery of a possible explosive device near the airport’s ferry terminal.
Police reported that two people were detained and were cooperating in the investigation.
Police said they received a call shortly before 4:00 p.m. to the Billy Bishop Airport Continental Ferry Terminal to investigate a suspicious package.
“We are facing a possible explosive device,” Toronto police tweeted.
Two residential buildings near the ferry terminal were also evacuated and a third was partially evacuated.
The facility, which is a secondary airport for Toronto, is located on one of the small islands south of the city center and is not used by jets. Porter Airlines and Air Canada use it for regional flights with turboprop aircraft.
The airport announced the closure of its runway and two Air Canada flights were diverted to Hamilton, Ontario.
Passengers who were stranded for several hours inside the terminal said they were evicted by water taxis.
“The track is closed for the rest of the afternoon. Porter has finished his schedule of afternoon flights. Two Air Canada flights were diverted to Hamilton. The remaining passengers in the terminal continue to be evicted. Tunnel and ferries remain closed,” Billy Bishop Airport tweeted.
Authorities also closed several streets in the area.
Toronto Mayor John Tory said in a tweet that he knows the area’s closure “has been and continues to be incredibly disruptive for many people — those who live and work in the area and those who travel — and I thank you for your patience.” .