DETROIT (WWJ) -- Authorities are investigating after an explosive chemical substance was found at a popular used bookstore in Detroit.
The Detroit Police Department's Bomb Squad was scene, late Monday morning, outside John K. King Used and Rare Books after a bottle of picric acid was found by a staffer.
The Detroit Fire Department confirmed to WWJ Newsradio 950 the bottle was discovered Sunday inside the store on Lafayette Boulevard near the Lodge.
The staffer -- who studied chemistry at Wayne State University -- noticed the acid in the bottle had crystallized, causing concerns it was unstable, so she placed it outside.
The staffer said the store does collect antiques in addition to books and this bottle was part of that collection. It was stored inside the box that apparently hadn’t been touched in decades.
She called the DFD Monday morning, the department responded.
Picric acid is a highly explosive, bright yellow chemical compound with an extremely bitter taste. While historically used in military artillery shells, it is most commonly found today as a specialized dye or staining agent in laboratories.
Hazmat cleared 350 feet radius around the store, while the DFD Bomb Squad responded.
The Bomb Squad came and retrieved the bottle, along with another old bottle of chemicals.
The DFD has since cleared the scene, and the store has reopened for business.
Janelle Spann, who volunteers at the store, is just so grateful that this was taken care of, and that no one was injured.
"It probably would be there in another 30 years. Because they've been there for 35 years," Spann told WWJ's Darrylin Horne. "Even though they're unstable, you can't twist the tops off ... It could've potentially hurt somebody. So, thank God it was us that found them."
As a result of the investigation, a section of northbound I-75 was closed for a time, as well as the southbound Lodge exit to Howard. All lanes have since reopened.
