PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia police took two people into custody after finding explosives and other contents in a blue van near Logan Square on Wednesday night, at 19th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Law enforcement sources told KYW Newsradio there may be a connection between the incident and recent ATM explosions across the city in the wake of the Walter Wallace Jr. police shooting. There have been more than a dozen in the past few days.
ATF Special Agent in Charge Matthew Varisco would not confirm a possible link at a press conference Thursday afternoon, but he did say there is no threat to the community right now.
“The two individuals are in custody, and I just want to commend the Philadelphia Police Department for their solid work in apprehending those two individuals,” he said.
Varisco said there have been a number of explosive devices found all over the city.
“These devices are not firecrackers,” he noted. “Sometimes they are characterized as such. They are dangerous and they can cause significant damage to ATM machines, buildings and human beings, for that matter.”
The investigation remains active with federal and state authorities.
“We are actively pursuing all leads as it pertains to those cases,” he added.