After fires prompted an evacuation at Langara College yesterday, Vancouver police have arrested and charged an individual.

Prior to noon on April 1, first responders received reports of a suspicious fire at Langara College’s West 49^th Avenue campus, according to the Vancouver Police Department (VPD).

A suspect had allegedly entered the college with improvised incendiary devices.

At least two of the devices were detonated, causing fires to start, before the suspect fled. According to Cst. Jason Doucette at a VPD news conference held today (April 2), several other devices were left behind. Cst. Doucette said that the VPD's bomb disposal unit neutralized a third device.

Cst. Doucette stated that sprinkler systems at the building did activate and the Vancouver Fire Department helped to put out the fires.

Initially, all classes in the T Building (Science and Technology Building) were cancelled but around 1 p.m., the college evacuated everyone from the campus and also closed its 601 West Broadway campus.

Based on information provided by the school and witnesses, the VPD identified the suspect as Nasradin Abdusamad Ali of Surrey, who is a 23-year-old student of Langara College, and alerted other local police agencies.  

Just after 4 p.m. on April 1, Metro Vancouver Transit Police arrested Ali in Surrey and turned him over to the VPD.

Today, the VPD announced that Ali remains in custody and has been charged with one count of arson related to inhabited property and one count of possession of incendiary material.

Although Langara College announced at 10:20 p.m. on April 1 that the VPD completed their sweep of the campus, the college’s West 49^th Avenue campus remained closed today while the 601 West Broadway campus was reopened.