Explosion Rocks Illinois City's Downtown

Feb. 18, 2008
No one was injured when an explosive device detonated in a downtown Aurora building, damaging dozens of windows.

AURORA, Ill. --

No one was injured when an explosive device detonated in a downtown Aurora building Saturday morning, damaging dozens of windows on two levels.

Firefighters and police arrived at Premiere Exteriors in the 400 block of South River Street about 9 a.m., after dozens of calls about an explosion that was heard in the downtown area, according to a release from Aurora police.

Officers spoke to an employee of the company who said he had just stepped out of a van in a lower-level parking garage when the explosion occurred, the release said.

Police found an apparent incendiary device had been placed along the west side on the exterior of the building between a wall and a garbage Dumpster, the release said.

Aurora police spokesman Dan Ferrelli would not comment on what type of explosive device was found, citing that it would "hamper the investigation."

The force of the blast destroyed dozens of windows on the first two levels on the west side of the building. Neither the van driver, nor any other employee who was in the building at the time of the incident, were injured, the release said.

Aside from Premiere Exteriors, an exterior siding business, a second hand clothing store is also located in the building. The store was vacant at the time of the explosion.

Police are asking anyone with information or who may have seen anything suspicious around the time of the incident to contact them at 630-801-6655; or Aurora Crime Stoppers at 630-892-1000. A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for information that leads to any arrests in the case.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosions, Aurora police, the Kane County Sheriff Departments Bomb Squad, Aurora Fire Department Arson Investigators are conducting the investigation into the explosion.

Copyright 2008, Chicago Sun-Times Inc.

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