There were no injuries.
According to a Windsor Police Service news update, an explosion at Stellantis Windsor Assembly on Thursday was being investigated by the police as an “intentional action”. At 5:45 PM, police responded to a call about an explosion at the factory and secured the area. Police arrived at the scene to find that the plant was already evacuated. No injuries were reported.
Police say that a suspicious package which had been detonated was discovered near the blast. It was found on the west side, on the second floor. It is not used “generally for general work.” Although it is not clear how much damage was caused, police reported that there was no active flame from the explosion upon their arrival.
Police are now going to investigate the package in order to identify any suspects. Police want to know if anyone placed the package.
Stellantis confirmed the incident to Automotive News. Normal operations resumed today after the company stopped production. The company stated in a statement that it was fully cooperating with authorities. “This is an ongoing investigation and we are unable to comment further. The plant was deemed safe for production. Safety and health of our employees, as well as that of the community are our top priorities.
According to Automotive News tensions are evident at the facility. Automakers recently introduced COVID-19 vaccine requirements. The plant also received news last month that a shift would be eliminated in April 2022. This is after 1,500 job losses at the facility were made in the early 2020 prior to the pandemic. The factory makes the Chrysler Pacifica, and other variants.