Calgary police have announced a woman has been charged with criminal negligence after the discovery of a suspicious package forced the evacuation of homes and businesses in the Manchester Industrial neighbourhood last week.
Members of the Calgary police bomb disposal unit were called in on Tuesday, Aug., 27, after investigators determined a package that was delivered to a local business contained the highly volatile chemical picric acid.
Several streets were also blocked off, the airspace around the business was shut down and people were asked to avoid the area as bomb disposal experts moved the chemical to a safe area where a series of small controlled explosions.
Investigators said a local moving company had been hired to deliver the chemical that had been mislabeled. It sat outside the business where it was delivered for about 10 days before it was discovered.
Story continues below advertisement
“I’m not sure of the exact quantity, but what I can tell you is that there was about a pallet full,” said Staff Sgt. Ray Kelly with the Calgary Police Service General Investigations Unit.
Get daily National news
Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
“In its dry state that would have caused significant damage to the area if it went off in that area, which is why our tactical team removed it from there and took care of it at a safe site.”
Kelly said the moving company was not aware what was inside the pallet and when they discovered it, they immediately contacted the Calgary fire department.
Police say investigators now believe the president of the company that hired the movers was aware of the contents of the package, but did not tell the moving company to ensure its proper disposal.
A member of the Calgary Police bomb disposal unit is seen helping to dispose of some highly volatile chemicals discovered outside a business in the city’s Manchester Industrial Park on Tuesday, Aug. 27, forcing the evaucation of nearby homes and businesses.
Global News
On its website, Transport Canada says picric acid is commonly used in chemistry labs to make dyes and explosives, but describes it as a highly sensitive to shock, heat and friction, making it one of the most dangerous chemicals being used today in chemistry labs.
Story continues below advertisement
On Tuesday, police announced that 59-year-old Christine Jacqueline Teschl has been charged with one count of criminal negligence and will appear in court on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025.
“We do not believe there was intent to harm members of the public,” said Kelly.
“However, the decisions made in relation to this material ultimately put our community and our emergency services personnel at significant risk.”
“It took expertise and collaboration across multiple agencies to ensure no one was hurt,” said Kelly, who added that Alberta Occupational Health and Safety is also investigating.
Police continue to ask anyone with information about the incident to call them at 403-266-1234.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at http://www.calgarycrimestoppers.org or by downloading the Crime Stoppers app (P3 Tip) from the app store.
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.