2 IEDs ignite at a Florida mall, police say
Police say two improvised explosive devices ignited in a mall in central Florida.
Lake Wales police Deputy Chief Troy Schulze said that at 5:22 p.m., the Lake Wales Fire Department received an alarm call at the Eagle Ridge Mall. While en route to that call, their alarm for smoke was turned into a structure fire call.
As they arrived, they found smoke in the service corridor just outside JC Penney. They discovered an IED that ignited or detonated inside that service corridor as they went inside.
Schulze said they also found a book bag containing what they believed to be other devices.
Officials say no one was injured, but the mall was evacuated.
Authorities say witnesses described a person of interest. An investigation is ongoing.
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