FBI lead MANHUNT as scared shoppers EVACUATE Eagle Ridge Mall after 'bombs’ explode
AN FBI-led manhunt is underway after shoppers frantically evacuated the Eagle Ridge Mall in Florida after two explosive devices were detonated causing fire crews to desperately scramble to the scene as police search for a middle-aged suspect, it has emerged.
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Smoke was billowing from a corridor at the mall next to one of its anchor stores, JCPenney, when fire crews arrived at the scene.
Police are currently searching for a middle-aged white male seen wearing a grey shirt and hat who has been deemed a person of interest.
Lakes Wales Deputy Police Chief, Troy Schulze, stated that the two devices were pipe bombs as he detailed that his son was working at the mall when the incident occurred.
He stated: "It's very concerning to us.
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"We're a family-oriented community. This is a family-oriented mall. When this started, my son was actually working here at this mall.
"People here shopping, just enjoying a Sunday afternoon or evening with their families, and literally 'boom’.”
Police Chief Schulze added that the explosions were not being labelled as terrorism at present.
He explained: "We're definitely not calling it terrorism at this time, but it's up to the FBI, which has been notified.”
There are no reports of injuries from the explosions - the ceiling and corridor wall nearby were damaged.
Another potential explosive device was found by authorities in a backpack in the same location.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the State Fire Marshall and the Hillsborough Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad are assisting with the investigation.
The FBI has joined the investigation.
The blast was reported at around 5.30pm local time (10.30pm on Sunday GMT).
Local news reporter Gabrielle Shirley stated that a second device exploded in the mall and that the backpack discovered did not contain an explosive device.
Additionally, she also stated that another “suspicious package” was found that is being investigated by bomb squad officers.
She tweeted: “Two devices exploded inside a corridor in the mall and a backpack was also found there without any explosives in it.
“One suspicious package was discovered near the movie theatre - the bomb squad is checking on it now.
“We are told the ‘suspicious package’ found near the movie theatre has been there for awhile and it is not a threat.
“The two devices that exploded inside the mall were a type of flare in a PVC pipe wrapped in electric tape…yikes.”
The Eagle Ridge Mall is roughly 30 minutes from Tampa.
Local media added that a canine was deployed to search the mall for additional explosive devices following the terrifying incident.
