Authorities responded to a "minor explosion" at a Target in north suburban Evanston on Wednesday afternoon, according to police.
The explosion occurred around 4 p.m. in the bathroom of a Target in the 2200 block of N Howard St, according to the Evanston Police Department. It involved a plastic water bottle, police said, and even though no injuries were reported, shoppers were shaken up.
"It's scary," said Bobbi Santo who was at the Evanston Target on Wednesday. "I think it's just a new wave of behavior that's being executed by people who have no rearing or morality."
Damage was contained to the one bathroom, according to police, and the cause of the explosion was unknown. Police and fire personnel, as well as the Cook County Bomb Squad, remained on the scene for several hours into the evening, collecting evidence and bringing in bomb-sniffing dogs.
"There were no threats or other suspicious activity prior to, or since the incident occurred," the Evanston Police Department said in a statement. "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."
Police did not release any potential suspects in the ongoing investigation, and ask that anyone with information about the incident call 847-866-5040 or text information to CRIMES (274637) with EPDTIP in the message.
