Sticks of dynamite found in Penticton

The RCMP bomb squad was called to Penticton, B.C., Monday morning after five sticks of dynamite were found in a lunchbox on a walking trail near a high school.

RCMP Sgt. Rick Dellebuur said the lunchbox was discovered just before 7 a.m. PT on a walking trail near the intersection of Haywood Street and Eckhart Avenue.

"A gentleman came across what appeared to be a green and white plastic cooler-type lunchbox. He opened it up and he immediately saw what appeared to be dynamite."

A section of one of the city's main streets was blocked off for much of the day Monday while the bomb squad conducted its investigation.

On Monday afternoon, a bomb squad robot opened the lunchbox and retrieved five sticks of 1970s-era dynamite.

The bomb squad took the dynamite to be disposed of outside of the city. Police have not said whether the dynamite was explosive.

Police were initially concerned the incident might have been a Halloween prank.

"We treat all incidents such as this as real until proven otherwise. And certainly being Halloween there is also the possibility that this is a hoax," said Dellebuur.

No homes or businesses were evacuated, but residents nearby were put on alert.