Canada: Possible meth lab at Saskatoon Salvation Army turns out to be photo chemicals

SASKATOON (CP) - People living and working at Saskatoon's Salvation Army hostel were back inside Wednesday after police determined that chemicals found in the building were used to develop photos, not make crystal methamphetamine as originally feared.

Salvation Army spokesman Capt. Bruce Mac Kenzie said it was business as usual at the downtown hostel, less than a day after more than 30 residents and staff were removed from the building and decontaminated by the fire department on the street.

"It's as if nothing ever happened," Mac Kenzie said. "But, it is a relief that there was not a risk."

Police said the chemicals removed from the building were in containers similar to those found in crystal meth labs.

But further investigation revealed that they were not dangerous to anyone.

The incident created quite a stir in downtown Saskatoon.

Streets around the building where shut down and the bomb squad was called in.

A robot was used to test air quality inside the building before emergency crews moved in.

Crystal meth is a highly-addictive street drug that can be made from drugs bought at pharmacies and is very volatile during the manufacturing process.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org/amphetablog.html
Pubdate: Wed, 24 Aug 2005
Source: The Brandon Sun (Canada)
Copyright: 2005 The Brandon Sun
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