An Edmonton police bomb disposal expert walks away from a Toyota Yaris after dealing with what was believed to be an explosive device in the trunk. (CBC)

Two men face a variety of charges after a stolen car was pulled over and Edmonton police found what they describe as explosive devices in the car and on one of the suspects.

The Sherwood Park Freeway was closed between 75th Street and 67th Street for more than four hours late Tuesday as a robot and a bomb disposal expert successfully neutralized what was first described as a suspicious package.

Police pulled over a Toyota Yaris at about 4 p.m. on the freeway near 71st Street because it had been reported stolen from Swift Current, Sask.

Two men in the car were arrested. Police closed the area to traffic after finding a suspicious package in the trunk.

A robot was sent in first, and a bomb disposal expert in a special suit followed.

Police on Wednesday would not say exactly what they found in the car, or precisely what was found on one of the men arrested.

"A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of an apparent live improvised explosive device (IED) in the rear of the car," police said in a statement.

"A second similar device was also located on one of the suspects from the vehicle. It was safely secured manually by the EPS technicians. At this time it is not known who made the IEDs or what they were to be used for."

Bomb squad Sgt. Grant Jongejan said the material was designed to cause damage. "It wasn't a terribly big device. It was rather small. However, it is an explosive device, it is hazardous and it would have caused injury had it gone off."

Police said Wednesday that one man, 39, has been charged with possession of stolen property, possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking, possession of explosives, possession of prohibited firearms, possession of a restricted weapon, possession of an explosive device, breach of conditions not to possess ammo/explosives and for driving an uninsured motor vehicle. A second man, 35 was arrested on outstanding warrants.

There were no injuries in the incident but an ambulance was called for the bomb disposal expert, who was treated for dehydration after wearing a padded protection suit and helmet during the dismantling operation.

The incident is still under investigation.