Man whose suspicious luggage caused closure of Victoria airport released, given court date: police

The RCMP says a man carrying luggage with suspicious contents that led to the closure of the Victoria International Airport on Tuesday afternoon has been released from custody with an upcoming court date.

Police say the investigation into the incident is still underway, and no charges have been laid. According to RCMP CplAndres Sanchez, there is a pending mischief charge, but that could change, and there is potential for further charges depending on the outcome of the investigation.

The Mounties did not provide the man's name.

They say explosives disposal unit members were called to examine items flagged during regular security scanning for departures and determined that two bags contained "inert military surplus explosives."

A statement released Wednesday by Sanchez says the RCMP was called when an airport security employee became concerned upon finding the first bag with two items that appeared to be "incendiary devices."

Sanchez told CBC News that the items were inert hand grenades, although it's not clear whether they were replicas or real grenades with the internal explosive components removed.

The RCMP statement says officers from the Sidney and North Saanich detachment went to the airport and took the man who claimed responsibility for the bag into custody while a portion of the airport was cordoned off.

The second bag was found but could not be safely examined until specialized experts arrived, it says.

The RCMP statement says that the departures wing was closed out of an abundance of caution before the airport reopened later Tuesday evening.

Rod Hunchak, the airport's director of business development and community relations, says about 20 flights were cancelled. Three were delayed on Tuesday, with a couple of delayed departures on Wednesday morning.

Hunchak estimates that about 1,800 passengers were affected.

Sanchez says police are reminding travellers to confirm that items in their luggage are permitted on planes or to get permission for certain items before flying.