Evanston Police Investigate Minor Explosion Inside Bathroom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 8, 2016

Contact: Commander Joseph Dugan - Media Relations
Phone:   (847) 866-5026

email: jdugan@cityofevanston.org

EVANSTON POLICE INVESTIGATE MINOR EXPLOSION INSIDE BATHROOM

On Wednesday, June 8, 2016 at approximately 4:08 PM, the Evanston Police and Fire Departments were called to the Target Store in the 2200 block of Howard Street for a minor explosion that occurred in the women's bathroom.  There were no reported injuries and the damage was confined to a stall inside the bathroom.  Police and Fire personnel secured the scene and requested assistance from the Cook County Bomb Squad prior to collecting any evidence.  A preliminary examination revealed the explosion may have initiated from a plastic bottle that was observed in the stall.  

There were no threats or other suspicious activity prior to, or since the incident occurred.  Detectives are interviewing witnesses, reviewing video from the store and following all investigative leads in order to identify the suspect and motive for the incident.  The store remained open after the incident and no threats have been made against Target or the general public.  

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Evanston Police Department detective division at (847) 866-5040 or use Text-A-Tip anonymously by texting the information to CRIMES (274637) and entering EPDTIP in the message line with the tip information.