ctvtoronto.ca
Date: Tuesday Nov. 1, 2011 10:25 PM ET
A seventh suspicious package has been found inside a costume store in Etobicoke, Ont., that has been "terrorized" by explosive devices over the Halloween weekend.
Toronto police said Tuesday afternoon that they had discovered another suspicious package inside the Amazing Party and Costume Store, located near the Gardiner Expressway and Islington Avenue.
The package was found inside a black leather bag hidden beneath some paper bags in the store, CP24 reported.
Two others have been discovered since police closed down the store Monday evening.
Police say all seven packages contained explosives, forcing two evacuations and days of closure over the busy Halloween weekend.
The organized crime unit has taken over the police investigation, which is something the store owner's lawyer, Calvin Barry, said is "suspicious and doesn't bode well in terms of who'd be doing this."
Scare began Friday
A bomb squad was called to the business for the first time on Friday, after staff found a suspicious package.
Two more packages were found at the location over the weekend – one by a police sniffer dog and another by an officer while searching through the store's inventory. A bomb disposal robot was used to remove them from the scene.
The store re-opened on Monday only to be closed again when a staff member discovered a fourth explosive package. Police say a fifth device was uncovered during their search early Tuesday morning.
The sixth device was uncovered Tuesday afternoon, forcing neighbouring businesses to remain closed while police searched the building.
Police have confirmed the first five packages contained a mixture of explosives, although they would not say what kind.
"They are active devices; they do have the potential to cause serious harm or death, or serious property damage," Insp. Gerry Cashman told reporters before noon on Tuesday.
Councillor Mark Grimes said the timing of the bomb scares was particularly bad.
"That this should happen during Halloween when there usually a high traffic of children, parents and customers in general is regrettable and shocking," he said in a statement Tuesday afternoon.
Grimes also noted that the costume store and several nearby businesses have lost revenue as a result of the incidents.
The Amazing Party and Costume Store confirmed the discovery of the first explosive device in a statement posted to its website over the weekend.
"There are no words to express the gratitude we feel towards our loyal customers, suppliers and neighbours for their support and understanding during this act of terrorism," the satement said.
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