DC businesses rocked by explosive devices, Molotov cocktail

The explosive devices went off near a Bank, a Nike Store and a grocery store, police said.

Published: July 2, 2023 5:30pm

Three businesses in Washington, D.C., were rocked by explosive devices early Sunday morning, police said.

The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department is asking for assistance in identifying a suspect, who they said appears to have targeted commercial establishments, not any members of the public.

The first explosive device went off outside of an ATM at the Truist Bank in Northeast DC around 4:30 a.m., causing damage to the location, police said. The suspect then fled in a vehicle.

Less than 10 minutes later, at roughly 4:36 a.m., the suspect detonated another explosive device on the sidewalk in front of the Nike Store doors on H Street Northeast, causing damage to the area and fleeing again in a vehicle.

Around 4:45 a.m. the suspect then "threw a Molotov cocktail style object at the Safeway store" in Northeast D.C., causing damage to the location as well, police said.

The establishments were all closed during the attacks and no injuries were reported.

D.C. police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are offering a reward of up to $20,000 to anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.