Police search for source of explosives found behind mall

By vincent todaro
Staff Writer

By vincent todaro
Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK — Police responding to a report of a suspicious liquid behind Brunswick Square Mall found three bottles and a glass jar containing an explosive material near the mall’s Summerhill Road entrance.

Police found the liquid substance on July 23 after a resident near the mall called police around 7 a.m. and said he was concerned after seeing the liquid in the jar and bottles.

The night before, police received a call at 10 p.m. from an area resident who said he heard a loud bang behind the mall. Police would not say where the resident lives other than in the mall’s vicinity. After the July 23 investigation, police said they now believe the liquid substance had been discharged the night before and caused the loud sound the resident heard. No one was injured, and no damage was reported involving the explosion, according to Lt. Geraldine Garrett of the East Brunswick Police Department.

Patrolman John Sisolak was the first to respond to the report of the suspicious material near the mall the morning of July 23.

"In the grassy area behind the mall, coming off Summerhill Road, the bottles were found," Garrett said.

The Summerhill Road entrance to the mall was closed from 10 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. while an investigation took place.

A host of emergency personnel and experts arrived to help police identify and deal with the liquid material. Responding were the Middlesex County Hazardous Materials Unit, Old Bridge Fire District No. 1, Trans Med Ambulance, the State Police Hazardous Materials Unit and the Middlesex County Office of Emergency Management. The state Department of Environmental Protection also assisted in the investigation.

"The people who were out doing the investigation by the mall — the consensus was that was most likely what had gone off," Garrett said of the liquid.

Police said they also found more plastic containers containing the same liquid on Racetrack Road near Lauretta Drive.

While Garrett said police will not disclose the name of the liquid, she did say it is used to make explosives.

She said the DEP has contracted with a private firm that will handle and analyze the substance.

She said Tuesday that police had no suspects related to the explosive material, but an investigation is ongoing.

The department has not received reports of loud bangs or sightings of suspicious liquids, Garrett said.

Though the shopping center entrance was temporarily closed, the mall itself was not evacuated, police said.