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Two improvised explosive devices go off at Eagle Ridge Mall in Lake Wales
[ABC] LAKE WALES, Fla. -- Two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) go off at Eagle Ridge Mall. Lake Wales fire crews responded to an alarm call at 451 Eagle Ridge Drive around 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

When fire crews arrived at the location, they saw smoke coming from a corridor located next to the mall entrance of JCPenney. The fire department located two pipe bomb type devices that ignited in the corridor of the building.

No one was injured in the explosions, but the celling and corridor wall did sustain damage. The mall was evacuated.

Police are looking for a person of interest that is describe as a middle aged white male, heavy build, wearing a grey shirt and grey hat. Anyone with information on this incident is urged to contact Lake Wales Police Detective Whitney Dukes at (863)678-4223 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at (800) 226-8477.
Update at 7:30 p.m. ET:
Initial reports claimed two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) went off at Eagle Ridge Mall on Sunday night, however, Lake Wales Police Department now says the devices were not IEDs or pipe bombs but rather flares disguised with electrical tape. Police have determined there were only two devices ignited in the service corridor where the incident occurred. Police believe the damage to the ceiling of the corridor was caused by the suspect, not an explosion.

Police have not determined the motive of the suspect(s) involved in the incident. They have released information on two persons of interest. The first person of interest is described as a white male, middle aged, heavy/stocky build, wearing a grey shirt and grey hat. The second person of interest is described as a male, believed to be white, 20 to 40 years of age, wearing a dark colored hat with a jacket and light colored shirt.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2018-01-22
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=506300