Manhunt as Nike, Safeway and bank attacked with explosives and Molotov cocktail

02 July 2023 , 19:26

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A $20,000 reward was issued (Image: Twitter/@AJKoski16)

A manhunt is underway after three stores were attacked with explosives and a molotov cocktail in a terrifying early morning spree.

The three explosions occurred outside a Nike store, a Safeway and Truist Bank, police revealed, and a $20,000 reward is being offered for information that "leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for these offences".

Each of the explosions occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning in the northeast of Washington DC and the suspect "targeted commercial establishments."

The first incident occurred outside of the ATM at the Truist Bank at 4.30am, followed by another explosion in front of the doors of the Nike store around six minutes later, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said.

The two locations are around two miles apart.

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The third incident then saw a "Molotov cocktail style object" at a Safeway on 40th Street. All three explosions occurred between 4.30am and 4.45am this morning and caused damage to the surrounding area.

The Truist bank after explosion (Twitter/@AJKoski16)

The three explosions occurred within 15 minutes of each other (Twitter/@AJKoski16)

Police said a suspect could be seen fleeing in a vehicle.

In a statement, MPD said: "It does not appear the suspect was targeting any members of the public. The establishments were closed at the time of the offences. There were no reported injuries as a result of these offences."

The MPD's Criminal Investigations Division is investigating along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division.

It comes as loud bangs are expected to be heard across the country this week amid July 4 celebrations.

In an unrelated incident in Baltimore, Maryland, a mass shooting during a "Brooklyn Day" event in Baltimore has left two dead and 28 injured.

There have been 338 mass shootings in the States this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive

Further to this, the US has seen 9,420 deaths from homicides, murder, unintentional deaths and defensive gun use this year alone.

Benjamin Lynch