Police: Teens tried to light explosives inside East Germantown grocery store

PHILADELPHIA - Police say a group of teens unsuccessfully attempted to ignite explosive devices inside a Philadelphia grocery store Tuesday evening. 

Officers from the Philadelphia Police Department were called to the Fresh Grocer on the 5300 block of Chew Avenue around 5 p.m. after store security reported three teens between 16-19 attempted to "light sticks of dynamite within the store."

The teens fled before police arrived, and store security managed to recover the explosive devices. Police later identified the explosives as M-100s; fireworks that Chief Inspector Mike Cram likened to sparklers or poppers.

He said the teens were in the aisle of the store where fireworks are sold when the incident happened, and fled before police arrived. Police are working to collect surveillance footage in hopes of identifying the teens.

No arrests were made, and no injuries were reported. A bomb squad responded to the store and cleared the scene.