RCMP are handling the investigation of a house explosion near Nanaimo鈥檚 downtown this week because there was a criminal element to the incident.

Police issued a press release Thursday, March 3, asking for any tips that will help in their investigation after a vacant house in the 300 block of Pine Street exploded the night of Sunday, Feb. 27.

鈥淚t鈥檚 evident that the explosion happened and most likely as a result of natural gas,鈥� said reserve Const. Gary O鈥橞rien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman. 鈥淭he question is why it happened.鈥�

He said police, firefighters and utility crews sifted through the rubble the day after the explosion.

鈥淔ortunately there was nobody found in the debris,鈥� O鈥橞rien said.

But as part of the investigation and through consultation with partner agencies, he said police determined 鈥渢here鈥檚 most likely criminality involved.鈥�

鈥淲e鈥檙e looking at the totality of the evidence based on that it was a boarded-up house, nobody should be inside, the fact that we鈥檝e attended to the house in the past for squatters,鈥� O鈥橞rien said.

He said RCMP are reviewing past police files related to the property and at the same time, are hoping to hear from anyone who might be able to provide information that could assist in the investigation.

鈥淚f somebody saw anything suspicious within 24-48 hours prior to that explosion 鈥� cars, people, noise from that home 鈥� we need to hear from those people,鈥� he said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP鈥檚 non-emergency line at 250-754-2345 and quote file No. 2022-6847.

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