Flights cancelled at Victoria International Airport following discovery of suspicious package

Around 20 commercial flights were cancelled at Victoria International Airport following the discovery of a suspicious package on Tuesday.

RCMP Cpl. Andres Sanchez said something that looked like "an incendiary device" was foundin the departures check-in area of the airport around 1:30 p.m. during a security scan.RCMP closed parts of the airport and aspecialized team was brought in to investigate.

RCMP later confirmed the checked baggage in question contained an incendiary item as well as inert surplus military supplies.

Just before 8 p.m., the airport announced it had reopened.

Sanchez said earlier in the evening that the person carrying the luggage is under investigation but police will have to determine the nature of the item before proceeding with any possible charges.

The airport authority announced on Twitter just before 3:30 p.m.that the airportwas closing to commercial flights as police responded to an undisclosed incident.

In a brief statement, RCMPsaid Tuesday afternoon that officers from theSidney/North Saanichdetachmentwere responding to a threat at the airport.It went on to say there were no public safety concerns, but police askedpeopleto avoid the area around the airport.

RCMP said around 20 flights scheduled from 2:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. were cancelled.