Grenade Replica Prompts Scare At King Of Prussia Mall
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. (CBS) – A portion of the King of Prussia Mall was evacuated after the discovery of a suspicious device in a planter that was later determined to be a replica of a grenade.
The discovery was made at about 1:47 p.m. Wednesday in the lower level of the Court at King of Prussia near the Eddie Bauer Store.
Upper Merion Police say about one-fourth of the food court was evacuated while the Montgomery County Sheriff's Bomb Squad investigated the find. Police say at about 2:30 p.m., the Bomb Squad determined the item was a replica of a hand grenade and not an actual explosive device.
"It turned out to be a hand grenade, which was real at one point, but was now a hallowed out training device," said Sgt. Al Everson.
In addition to investigating the incident, the Upper Merion Police Department is also looking into whether a fire in a trash can just outside the mall entrance, might be connected.
Police conducted a security sweep and the mall was reopened about 90 minutes later.
"It was scary, but luckily nothing happened," said one shopper.
