The Detroit-Windsor Tunnel has been closed due to a "a perceived threat," officials say.
Carolyn Brown, executive vice-president of the tunnel corporation, would only say Windsor police were notified of "a potential threat" at approximately 1 p.m.
A tunnel employee told CBC News a bomb threat had been received at the duty free shop near the tunnel’s entrance, but Brown said the threat is inside the tunnel and not in the shop.
Police have said they are responding to "a perceived threat."
"Detroit-Windsor Tunnel is currently closed to traffic after a non-specific, anonymous bomb threat was received. Find alternate routes," the police service tweeted at 1:20 p.m.
Windsor and Detroit police are inspecting the tunnel. However, Windsor police officer Matt D'Asti told CBC News investigators "don't know what they're looking for."
D'Asti said tunnel employees are accompanying police as they search the tunnel.
He confirmed police are dusting a payphone for fingerprints near the tunnel entrance on the Windsor side.
Windsor’s deputy police chief Jerome Brannigan said the Detroit police bomb squad entered the tunnel just after 2:30 p.m. He said it could be as late as 5 p.m. before police finish their investigation. Brannigan said police have video from inside the tunnel.
Neal Belitsky, president and CEO of the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, told the Detroit Free Press the bomb threat originated on the Canadian side of the border.
CBC News cameraman Vince Robinet reported from the scene that an empty flat-bed truck went into the tunnel just after 1:30 p.m. and exited the tunnel carrying an Oldsmobile.
The Windsor police bomb disposal unit is on scene, and the tunnel has been evacuated and closed in both directions.
No other roads are affected.
Law enforcement is turning pleasure boats away and stopping freighters on the Detroit River. Boats are being met on the water west of the Ambassador Bridge and east of Caesars Windsor.
The 1.5-kilometre tunnel connects downtown Windsor with Detroit. Its traffic capacity is 2,000 cars an hour.
The tunnel is used more by passenger traffic, tourists and businesspeople than for trade. The nearby Ambassador Bridge is North America's busiest crossing.
Transit Windsor operations manager Pat Delmore said two buses from Windsor were in Detroit at the time of the threat.
One is on its way back to Windsor via the Ambassador Bridge. He didn’t have an update on the second bus.
Delmore said bus service to Detroit isn’t available. It is not known when service will resume.
Carolyn Brown, executive vice-president of the tunnel corporation, would only say Windsor police were notified of "a potential threat" at approximately 1 p.m.
A tunnel employee told CBC News a bomb threat had been received at the duty free shop near the tunnel’s entrance, but Brown said the threat is inside the tunnel and not in the shop.
Police have said they are responding to "a perceived threat."
"Detroit-Windsor Tunnel is currently closed to traffic after a non-specific, anonymous bomb threat was received. Find alternate routes," the police service tweeted at 1:20 p.m.
Windsor and Detroit police are inspecting the tunnel. However, Windsor police officer Matt D'Asti told CBC News investigators "don't know what they're looking for."
D'Asti said tunnel employees are accompanying police as they search the tunnel.
He confirmed police are dusting a payphone for fingerprints near the tunnel entrance on the Windsor side.
Windsor’s deputy police chief Jerome Brannigan said the Detroit police bomb squad entered the tunnel just after 2:30 p.m. He said it could be as late as 5 p.m. before police finish their investigation. Brannigan said police have video from inside the tunnel.
Neal Belitsky, president and CEO of the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, told the Detroit Free Press the bomb threat originated on the Canadian side of the border.
CBC News cameraman Vince Robinet reported from the scene that an empty flat-bed truck went into the tunnel just after 1:30 p.m. and exited the tunnel carrying an Oldsmobile.
The Windsor police bomb disposal unit is on scene, and the tunnel has been evacuated and closed in both directions.
No other roads are affected.
Law enforcement is turning pleasure boats away and stopping freighters on the Detroit River. Boats are being met on the water west of the Ambassador Bridge and east of Caesars Windsor.
The 1.5-kilometre tunnel connects downtown Windsor with Detroit. Its traffic capacity is 2,000 cars an hour.
The tunnel is used more by passenger traffic, tourists and businesspeople than for trade. The nearby Ambassador Bridge is North America's busiest crossing.
Transit Windsor operations manager Pat Delmore said two buses from Windsor were in Detroit at the time of the threat.
One is on its way back to Windsor via the Ambassador Bridge. He didn’t have an update on the second bus.
Delmore said bus service to Detroit isn’t available. It is not known when service will resume.