Downtown Kelowna roads reopened after police investigate 'suspicious backpack'

An area of downtown Kelowna, B.C., has reopened after RCMP told businesses to shelter in place Tuesday afternoon due to a "suspicious backpack."

Police say the backpack on Leon Avenue was reported to them at about 2:30 p.m. PT, and they quickly closed down the surrounding blocks, referring to it as an "unfolding incident."

The affected area was around the 300-block of Leon Avenue, just a short distance from the town's waterfront, Kelowna City Park and several retailers and restaurants.

In a release Wednesday morning, Kelowna RCMP said the backpack was believed to contain an improvised explosive device. It said the RCMP's Explosive Disposal Unit arrived at the scene at 9:20 p.m. PT Tuesday and disposed of the backpack after determining it was not an explosive device.

As of Wednesday morning, the area had reopened to the public. The investigation is ongoing.