'I heard a bang and then the sky lit up,' says witness

Laura Busch
Northern News Services
Published Friday, December 6, 2013

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Yellowknifer has received reports of what appears to be at least two police raids on Yellowknife locations shortly after 5 a.m. Friday morning.

Tia Hanna was asleep in her home near the corner of Taltheilei Drive and Kam Lake Road when she was awoken by what she at first believed to be kids setting off fireworks.

"I heard a bang and the sky lit up," she said.

When she looked out her open window to see what was going on, she saw six to 10 vehicles surrounding the property across the street from hers. She then saw flashlights moving around and lights go on both in the home and the warehouse on the property.

At the same time ­ at about 5:15 a.m. -- Bison Hill Apartments was evacuated and smoke was observed on the fourth floor. Several police officers, some equipped with what was described as tactical gear, were seen entering the building and appeared to search it for about 15 minutes before informing residents they could go back inside.

Yellowknife RCMP have yet to respond to a request for information about the activity, but are expected to do so later today.