Police detonate ‘homemade explosive device’ found on footpath in Oshawa, Ont.

Police detonated a “homemade explosive device” found on a footpath in Oshawa, Ont., and are looking for a group of males seen igniting it on surveillance video.

Durham Regional Police responded to a report of a suspicious device on the footpath, which runs from Greenwood Avenue and Marquette Avenue, at about 9:30 a.m. Monday.

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Sgt. Bill Calder said the explosive was made out of a can of paint thinner that had aerosol cans taped to it and a wick was used to ignite it.

He said a group of young males were seen on camera lighting the device around 2 a.m. Sunday and getting excited after it caught fire, before running from the area across Greenwood Avenue to Park Road South.

Although there was no pedestrian traffic on the footpath, Calder said the DRPS Explosive Disposal Unit detonated the device as a precaution.

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Park Road South was shut down while investigators made sure the device was safe to approach.

Anyone with new information is asked to contact police at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 2704 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at http://www.durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca.