UPDATE: 4:30 p.m.
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — When police responded Tuesday night to a report of three teenagers who may have set off dynamite inside a Germantown grocery store, they arrived to find no dynamite and no explosion.
That’s the latest from Chief Inspector Michael Cram, who briefed reporters Wednesday afternoon at the bomb squad headquarters on State Road.
Police got the call around 5 p.m. Tuesday. Investigators say security had reported three boys — ranging in age from approximately 16 to 19 — who attempted to light sticks of dynamite while inside the store on Chew Avenue.
Police sent an email Tuesday night, saying that the bomb squad had “cleared the scene and recovered the dynamite.” They later sent an update Wednesday morning saying that the items recovered were firecrackers known as M-80s.
Use of M-80s requires a license issued by federal authorities.
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Cram explained Wednesday.
“Basically what it was — there was a troop of teenagers in there around the fireworks section. They do sell fireworks in that particular store," Cram said.
"They might have heard some popping noises. There was no explosions. I think there might be poppers.”
When store security approached the teenagers, they took off, say police.
Cram said investigators found a package of sparklers left on the floor near the fireworks display.
With the Fourth of July and other summer celebrations coming up, he reminds the public to leave the fireworks to the professionals.
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