Authorities are investigating the late Sunday detonation of an apparent improvised explosive device (IED) in Hansford, W.Va, according to local officials. Dispatchers were notified about the explosion at about 11:30, according to ABC's West Virginia affiliate WCHS-TV, prompting the local fire department to travel to the scene and put out a small fire upon their arrival. They later called in technicians with the department's bomb squad who collected evidence at the scene.
It's noted that authorities never saw an IED, just the aftermath of the explosion, which included minor damage to the surrounding area, gunpowder on street signs and tree branches, and dirt and grass strewn across the ground, according to The Blaze.
With little else to go on, bomb experts have taken parts of the IED to a lab for analysis.
Investigators are unclear about how the device got there, according to NBC's West Virginia affiliate WSAZ-TV, they also have yet to make a comment about a potential motive or suspect.
News of alleged IEDs showing up are somewhat uncommon, but they are always a cause for concern for authorities when they do. Last December, an elementary school in Miami was forced to evacuate school grounds after a pressure cooker was discovered beneath a tree on the northeast of the school. The cooker was found to be non-dangerous, so the children were allowed to return to school and the day continued on as usual.
