No IEDs are found at a Florida mall as police search for two suspects who left marine flares in a corridor that made shoppers think bombs had gone off

  • There was a lot of smoke outside JC Penney at Eagle Ridge Mall on Sunday night 
  • Police originally believed them to be Improvised Explosive Devices
  • The FBI said the explosions were in fact marine flares that ignited

By Associated Press

Published: | Updated:

The Federal Bureau of Investigation says two items believed to be marine flares ignited in a hallway at a Florida mall, creating a large amount of smoke.

Police initially said they were IEDs.

However, FBI spokeswoman Andrea Aprea said in a statement on Monday that there's no indication there was any explosion at the Eagle Ridge Mall in Lake Wales on Sunday afternoon.

The Lake Wales Police Department is searching for whoever ignited two marine flares Sunday evening near the entrance of the JCPenney store at the Eagle Ridge Mall

The Lake Wales Police Department is searching for whoever ignited two marine flares Sunday evening near the entrance of the JCPenney store at the Eagle Ridge Mall

Police said they are looking for a person of interest described as a stocky, middle-aged white man wearing a gray shirt and a hat.

Police said they are looking for a person of interest described as a stocky, middle-aged white man wearing a gray shirt and a hat.

Surveillance footage recorded at the mall has been released in the hope the public can help

Surveillance footage recorded at the mall has been released in the hope the public can help

Nobody was injured but there was some damage done in a corridor and along a wall
Nobody was injured but there was some damage done in a corridor and along a wall 

Nobody was injured but there was some damage done in a corridor and along a wall 

It's believed a marine flare was responsible for the smoke and 'explosion-like' incident (stock photo)

It's believed a marine flare was responsible for the smoke and 'explosion-like' incident (stock photo)

Police and fire officials found smoke in a service corridor just before 5.20pm on Sunday outside J.C. Penney and discovered what they believed to be an IED along with a book bag.

There were no injuries, but there was damage to a ceiling and potentially to the corridor wall, police said. 

Aprea said bomb technicians found no trace of incendiary or explosive devices. She said there's no current indication of terrorism.  

Officers originally said the devices consisted of a smoke bomb placed inside a PVC pipe and sealed with tape.

Some flares were set off in the entryway of a JC Penney at a Florida Mall on Sunday evening

Some flares were set off in the entryway of a JC Penney at a Florida Mall on Sunday evening

The incident occurred just before 5.20pm at the Eagle Ridge Mall in Lake Wales, Florida

The incident occurred just before 5.20pm at the Eagle Ridge Mall in Lake Wales, Florida

There were no injuries but there was damage to a ceiling and to the corridor wall, police said. An officer with the Polk County Sheriff's Office is pictured talking to reporters

There were no injuries but there was damage to a ceiling and to the corridor wall, police said. An officer with the Polk County Sheriff's Office is pictured talking to reporters

The agency is continuing to assist state and local officials in the investigation.

No one was injured, but the mall was evacuated.        

Witnesses described the suspect who left the bag with the flares as a middle-aged white male with a heavy or stocky build who was wearing a gray shirt and gray hat.

The incident is not being treated as a terror attack, officers said.

Florida

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