Mounties said in a statement that the man was inside a vehicle parked in the driveway of a residence in Montrose, BC, a village of about 1,000 people located 10 kilometers east of Trail, when the explosion occurred around 6:39 a.m. Police say the man, who was known to them prior to the incident, suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital for medical treatment. Trail and Greater District RCMP Sgt. Mike Wicentowich says police are still determining the cause of the explosion, but it appears to be an isolated and targeted incident and there is no danger to the public at this time. Wicentowich says his detachment is now working with the BC RCMP Explosives Unit and Nelson RCMP Forensic Identification Section investigating the cause of the explosion He says BC’s Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) has also been alerted that the incident may be gang-related. Wicentowich says there has been an increase in organized crime activity in recent years, including shootings and homicides around Trail and its neighboring communities. “Groups, or what you would consider gangs, are now starting to operate here, so the competition has become much more intense,” he said. Trail RCMP are asking the public to stay away from the scene of the explosion until the investigation is complete and the area is confirmed to be safe.
