Bomb squad completes removal of unstable chemicals from U of R labs

The Regina Police Service’s bomb squad and other first responders began the process Friday of removing unstable chemicals from some labs on the University of Regina campus.

The operation was completed at around 2:30 p.m.

Update: Today's chemical disposal operation at #UofRegina campus is now complete. Thank you to @ReginaPolice and all involved for conducting a safe and successful operation. Affected buildings are now open again. pic.twitter.com/wZgtPZeW6X

— University of Regina (@UofRegina) January 7, 2022

On Thursday, the U of R announced a recent inventory check in various science labs had found bottles of older chemicals that had “degraded to a point where they pose a potential explosive hazard if disturbed.”

The labs in question were in the Research and Innovation Centre (RIC) and the Lab Building.

The university called the RPS’s explosives/chemical disposal experts for advice and then cordoned off the labs.

(Regina Police Service/Submitted)

On Friday morning, the RPS experts started to remove the chemicals with plans of blowing them up.

“Safe disposal of these chemicals will require the use of controlled detonation in a remote, unpopulated area of campus,” the university’s release read. “This may result in loud noises, audible for some distance.”

Members of the public and university community were urged to stay away from campus while the operation was underway.