PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Police say a teenage boy was critically injured when an illegal explosive blew up in his hands at a northeast Philadelphia playground.
Police say the 13-year-old was at the Houseman Playground in the Summerdale neighborhood Monday evening when he tried to light the device, and it blew up, “partially amputating both hands.”
Last week, a 9-year-old girl was critically injured when a similar explosive blew up in a Kensington home.
On Tuesday, police reported an increase since July 4 in the use of illegal explosive devices that officials say have caused “serious, life-altering” injuries.
Police stressed that such M-series devices aren’t fireworks but are classified as illegal explosive devices that can cause serious injury or even death, and mere possession of them is a felony in Pennsylvania.
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