Police confirm Maria Mitousis was taken to hospital with serious injuries after an explosion in a law firm on River Avenue on Friday morning.

Police said they were called to the Petersen King law office in the Osborne area.

Const. Eric Hofley said the woman triggered the explosive device inadvertently and the injuries were to her upper body. He said they believe the incident is isolated and cannot confirm how the device got there or where it came from.

Police also said they do not know if Mitousis was the specific target of the bomb that exploded at the family law firm.

They said they don't have any reason to believe the device represents a danger to the broader public or an attack on the justice system at large.

One source says the 38-year-old woman lost a hand in the blast and was in danger of losing the other one.

Other sources say Mitousis was in a common-law relationship with Barry Gorlick, a Winnipeg lawyer who was recently disbarred after he admitted to 15 counts of professional misconduct.

Police have not said how the bomb ended up in the law firm -- whether it was sent through the mail or dropped off by someone.

The Law Society of Manitoba sent an alert to its lawyers regarding the explosion and alerting them of a more recent incident of a suspicious email sent to another law office.

They were advising caution when dealing with mail and other deliveries.

Police continue their investigation at 444 St. Mary, where Mitousis and Gorlick both formerly worked.

Supt. Danny Smyth said this investigation was ongoing as a precautionary measure and that they were not acting on any specific information.

Smyth said the RCMP bomb squad was called in to help investigate.

SWAT team, hazardous materials unit, bomb squad, fire and paramedic units remain on the scene at River Ave.

Neighbours from nearby homes in the area were evacuated.

The area from Mayfair to past Clark, approximately a two block radius from the scene, is blocked off with police tape.

As a result of the incident, traffic is blocked off and transit routes have been detoured.

Police said surrounding areas would be blocked off for quite some time as the investigation continues.

CTV will bring you details as they emerge.

- With files from Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press