Explosive at B.C. minister’s office ‘homemade,’ not intended to hurt anyone: RCMP

NORTH VANCOUVER – An “unsophisticated, homemade” bomb blew open the door at a British Columbia cabinet minister’s constituency office in North Vancouver last month, RCMP said Tuesday. 

Cpl. Mansoor Sahak said the Mounties’ explosive disposal unit determined the bomb was likely set off with a burning fuse.

“It could potentially be multiple bear bangers or commercially available fireworks taped together to increase the explosive potential of the item,” Sahak told the media gathered for a news conference. 

The explosive went off outside the office of Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma just after 4 a.m. on June 27, causing what Sahak described as minor damage.

Since the explosion, police have been scouring CCTV footage, interviewing witnesses and have narrowed down their suspects to two men, he said. 

Police released photos hoping the public will recognize them. 

One is a slender man who was wearing a long, blond wig and a dark hoodie.

The other man, whose face is more visible, is described as Caucasian with a stocky build, balding with dark, short hair. In the photo, he’s wearing a dark jacket and shirt and blue jeans. 

Police say there were two explosions in the area near the same time that Friday, and Sahak said they believe the two men were also responsible for damaging a street sign earlier that morning. 

“So this point, we don’t have any information that this was a politically motivated incident. There’s just not information to point to that direction,” Sahak said, although he added that that could change as they get further into the investigation.

However, Sahak said the suspects apparently didn’t intend to hurt anyone, and for now, police are looking at recommending potential charges of mischief. 

“So, the public plays a huge role in this. We’re releasing these images in hopes that somebody out there, and somebody does know these individuals. We’re asking those individuals to do the right thing, to come forward and help us in our investigation,” he said. 

A charred blast pattern was still visible on Tuesday on the ground outside Ma’s constituency office, where no one was inside. 

“We are currently unable to take walk-ins. Door is broken and cannot be opened,” a sign taped to the door said. 

Ma said in an interview on Friday that she was worried about the lasting implications that such a bomb threat could have on the way politicians serve. 

“I worry that will drive elected officials further away from these kinds of open approaches, and that’s not a criticism of elected officials. 

“I mean, they’ve got to do what they need to do to keep themselves and their staff safe, but we also lose out as a democratic society when that happens.”

Ma said she had received about a half a dozen death threats in the past, but considered herself “fortunate” as a provincial politician, as other elected officials have had many more such threats. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 8, 2025.