Suspect targets DC businesses with explosive devices and Molotov cocktail

The DC Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reported that three establishments in Washington DC were victims of explosive attacks early Sunday morning.

The Metropolitan Police and the ATF reported that they are searching for a single suspect who is allegedly responsible for carrying out several attacks that occurred within a span of no more than 15 minutes.

Authorities explained that the suspect detonated an explosive device around 4:30 a.m. in the 2300 block of Washington Place in front of a Truist Bank ATM. Approximately six minutes after the first attack, the suspect detonated another explosive in front of the doors of the Nike store located on H Street. Finally, around 4:45 a.m., the person fled in a speeding vehicle after firing something resembling a Molotov cocktail at the Safeway store on 40th Street.

In the early hours of the morning, businesses were closed, so no one was injured. However, all three stores report that they suffered damage to their facilities' structures. Officials have not yet released further information about the suspect or what the motive for the attacks may have been but do believe that the purpose was not to harm people but rather to attack businesses.

Officials offer reward in exchange for information

To encourage people to provide any information that could result in a conviction and imprisonment for the person responsible for the detonations, the Metropolitan Police Department is offering a $10,000 reward, while the ATF raised the remuneration figure to $20,000.