Police: explosion in downtown Aurora caused by device

An explosion that occurred in the downtown Aurora area this morning was caused by an "incendiary device" placed outside of the building, police said.

The force of the blast at Premiere Exteriors in the 400 block of south River Street destroyed dozens of windows on the first two levels on the west side of the building. Police say there were no injuries; there is no damage estimate available at this time.

Police and fire units went to the scene about 9 a.m. after receiving numerous calls that an explosion was heard in the downtown area.

Upon arrival, emergency personnel made contact with an employee of the company who said he had just stepped out of a van he had driven into the building's lower level, when the explosion occurred.

Officers found that an apparent incendiary device had been placed along the west side exterior of the building between a wall and a garbage dumpster. Neither the van driver, nor another employee who was in the building at the time of the incident, were injured. Police say that damage was confined to the building's windows.

Police reported that a second hand clothing store is also housed in the building. That business was vacant at the time of the explosion.

The Kane County Sheriff Department's Bomb Squad, Aurora Fire Department Arson Investigators, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are conducting an investigation.

Aurora police are asking anyone with information, or who may have seen anything suspicious around the time of the incident, to call them at (630) 801-6655, or to call Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at (630) 892-1000.