| From: Robert | Sent: 6/17/2002 7:17 PM |
| Saddledome convention disrupted by bomb scare
Sorcha McGinnis Calgary Herald Monday, June 17, 2002
Nearly 8,000 Jehovah's Witnesses were forced to evacuate the Saddledome on Sunday after a bomb scare. Delegates at the Jehovah's Witnesses Zealous Kingdom Proclaimers district convention -- some dressed in biblical costumes -- calmly filed through doors at the Pengrowth Saddledome just before 11 a.m. "We were alerted to a person carrying a suspicious package. We couldn't identify that person," said convention spokesman Frank Billington. Sniffer dogs searched the building but failed to turn up anything. Laurie Stang of Medicine Hat attempted to shade her 10-month-old son, Hudson, from the bright sun during the wait to return inside. "We were part way through a song when we were told a situation had arisen," said Stang. "We were directed to the exits and we're just waiting until we can go back in." Calgary paramedics had to be called to treat two people as a result of the evacuation. A man suffering from chest pains and a woman in labour were transported to hospital. At about 11:40 a.m., the all-clear was sounded and security guards and convention attendants began ushering the delegates back in. "The premises were checked and people were allowed to return to the building," said police Insp. Ted Guard, who added that no arrests were made and police are not looking for any suspects. It took more than an hour to return the crowd to their seats as personnel attempted to check each name tag. A security staff member said he couldn't remember if the Saddledome had ever been evacuated before. "I've certainly never seen something on this scale," said the man, who asked not to be identified. Billington said he does not believe the bomb threat was directed at his group. "We're a peaceful people. We're not expecting an attack," he said, adding he could not rule out the possibility the threat was related to protests over the upcoming G-8 summit in Kananaskis. Copyright 2002 Calgary Herald |