Vancouver’s Waterfront Station was evacuated after a fake bomb threat. Transit police confirm it was a swatting incident. Operations have now resumed.
Waterfront Station, one of Vancouver’s busiest transit terminals, was temporarily shut down Sunday following a hoax bomb threat that prompted a swift police response and full evacuation.
The threat, now confirmed as a suspected “swatting” incident, caused service disruptions to SkyTrain and SeaBus operations, impacting hundreds of weekend commuters before being resolved safely.
Swatting Call Triggers Station Shutdown
The alert was triggered by a 911 call received early Sunday morning, alleging the presence of an explosive device at the station.
“A 911 call was received from an unknown person which involved threats of an explosive device at Waterfront SkyTrain Station,” stated Metro Vancouver Transit Police in a release.
Responding with urgency, officers from the Transit Police and Vancouver Police Department (VPD) arrived on scene and evacuated the entire station out of an abundance of caution.
Police Dogs and Drones Deployed in Search
Authorities deployed explosive detection dogs and a VPD aerial drone to conduct a thorough sweep of the premises. After a detailed search, no threats or suspicious objects were discovered.
“We believe that this is a ‘swatting’-style incident and there is no current threat to public safety,” the Transit Police confirmed.
Swatting refers to a malicious hoax call designed to provoke an emergency response. While rare, such incidents are treated with high seriousness due to the risks and resource impact involved.
Station Reopened, Investigation Ongoing
At 1:40 p.m., TransLink confirmed that operations at Waterfront Station had resumed as normal, with all SkyTrain and SeaBus services returning to regular scheduling.
However, the incident remains under active police investigation, with authorities working to trace the origin of the hoax call and determine the responsible individual.
Transit Services Temporarily Impacted
During the incident:
- Waterfront Station was fully evacuated
- SkyTrain and SeaBus services were temporarily suspended
- A bus bridge was requested to connect Lonsdale Quay, Waterfront, and Burrard stations
Transit police shared live updates via Twitter/X, urging commuters to avoid the area and expect delays until the situation was resolved.
No Immediate Threat, But Public Urged to Stay Vigilant
While the threat was unfounded, authorities emphasized the importance of treating such calls seriously to ensure public safety.
As a precaution, citizens are encouraged to report suspicious activity and avoid sharing unverified information online during developing incidents.
Stay with Maple News Wire for further updates on this ongoing investigation and breaking transit news from across British Columbia.
