The good news: no one was hurt or injured in a small explosion in an Illinois Target store.
EPD on scene at Target for minor explosion involving plastic bottle in bathroom. No injuries.
— Evanston, IL Police (@EvanstonPD) June 8, 2016
If it turns out nobody is hurt or injured there’s going to be an interesting joke for this headline… pic.twitter.com/Yeq0gdMu3D
— Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) June 8, 2016
The bad news: it appears that there was indeed an explosive device set off in a Target restroom in Evanston, Ill., Wednesday afternoon.
Explosive device goes off in bathroom in Evanston Target. No injuries. @fox32news @EvanstonPD: device:plastic bottle pic.twitter.com/6ti2O4QjaJ
— Craig Wall FOX 32 (@craigrwall) June 8, 2016
No evacuation needed. Incident happens on same day #Chicago alderman talk of greater protections for transgendered https://t.co/BfVz2eLvvq
— Craig Wall FOX 32 (@craigrwall) June 8, 2016
In a corporate statement released in April, Target said that it welcomed “transgender team members and guests to use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity.”
Reportedly there was no warning made or threat phoned in, and what damage there was was confined to a single stall in the restroom.
The @EvanstonPD: no threats/suspicious activity b4 small explosive device went off in @Target bathroom @fox32news pic.twitter.com/oL9YjHGf35
— Craig Wall FOX 32 (@craigrwall) June 8, 2016
Damage isolated to washroom. Scene being examined by police and fire personnel.
— Evanston, IL Police (@EvanstonPD) June 8, 2016
Target update. EPD detectives and evidence techs still processing scene.
— Evanston, IL Police (@EvanstonPD) June 9, 2016
Bomb sniffing K-9 goes into Evanston @Target store where small bomb exploded in woman's restroom @fox32news pic.twitter.com/E9e4QCEkQ2
— Craig Wall FOX 32 (@craigrwall) June 9, 2016
Police issued a statement Wednesday evening:
On Wednesday, June 8, 2016 at approximately 4:08 PM, the Evanston Police and Fire Departments were called to the Target Store in the 2200 block of Howard Street for a minor explosion that occurred in the women’s bathroom. There were no reported injuries and the damage was confined to a stall inside the bathroom. Police and Fire personnel secured the scene and requested assistance from the Cook County Bomb Squad prior to collecting any evidence. A preliminary examination revealed the explosion may have initiated from a plastic bottle that was observed in the stall.
