Explosive device, guns, stolen EPS uniforms seized during Edmonton bust

An EPS tactical team at a scene in southeast Edmonton on Jan. 29, 2022. (Source: Melissa Auchenberg)

Police are still searching for three men after an explosive device, "numerous" firearms and several first responder uniforms were discovered at a house in southeast Edmonton.

Edmonton Police Service said officers noticed the men "loading suspicious items into a taxi" in the area of 44 Avenue and James Crescent at 3:50 a.m. on Saturday. The three men ran into a home when they saw officers, police said.

Officers searched the bags left behind and found rifles with silencers, "several other firearms," and an EPS uniform.

A tactical team was called in and police said they negotiated with the people inside the house.

"We got a call from police, nobody was supposed to come into the crescent or go out and stay away from the windows and doors," said Sant Kalirai, who lives near the scene.

Kalirai believes the house is a rental and said police have been there several times recently.

"Kind of seemed like they were not good citizens. I kind of avoided them cause the police were coming by," he said.

"It was scary, we had no idea what was going on. We just saw all these SWAT team members, the canine team was there. They moved in about a year ago and the police have been there on a weekly basis," said neighbour Melissa Auchenberg.

She said the police caved the garage door in, and photos of the scene confirm that. Part of the fence in the backyard was also destroyed.

The scene of an EPS tactical mission in southeast Edmonton. (Source: Dave Mitchell/CTV News Edmonton

Eventually a man, a woman and a child came out of the house, police said. But when the residence was cleared early Sunday morning, none of the three suspects that officers originally spotted were found.

Police searched the house and said they found more guns, an improvised explosive device, and police, fire and EMS uniforms.

Police arrested a fourth man from the house on outstanding warrants, but EPS didn't specify what those charges were.

No injuries were reported in the incident.