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Grenade Replica Prompts Scare At King Of Prussia Mall

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. (CBS) – A portion of the King of Prussia Mall was evacuated after the discovery of a suspicious device in a planter that was later determined to be a replica of a grenade.

The discovery was made at about 1:47 p.m. Wednesday in the lower level of the Court at King of Prussia near the Eddie Bauer Store.

Upper Merion Police say about one-fourth of the food court was evacuated while the Montgomery County Sheriff's Bomb Squad investigated the find. Police say at about 2:30 p.m., the Bomb Squad determined the item was a replica of a hand grenade and not an actual explosive device.

"It turned out to be a hand grenade, which was real at one point, but was now a hallowed out training device," said Sgt. Al Everson.

In addition to investigating the incident, the Upper Merion Police Department is also looking into whether a fire in a trash can just outside the mall entrance, might be connected.

Police conducted a security sweep and the mall was reopened about 90 minutes later.

"It was scary, but luckily nothing happened," said one shopper.

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