Five workers narrowly escaped injury after an explosive device detonated inside a Woolworths store at Menlyn Mall in the early hours of Thursday morning.
According to Tshwane police spokesperson Johan van Dyk, the incident occurred at approximately 1am while staff members were busy stocking shelves inside the store.
Despite the explosion, no injuries were reported.
Van Dyk said police had launched an investigation following the incident at the Menlyn shopping centre on Atterbury Road.
Preliminary information indicates that the store manager was alerted after receiving a phone call from staff members who were on duty at the time of the blast.
Emergency response teams were immediately dispatched to the scene, with police and rescue personnel cordoning off the affected area shortly afterwards.
Authorities believe an unknown explosive device detonated on one of the store shelves.
At the time of the incident, five packers were working inside the store when the explosion occurred.
Police confirmed that the damage was limited to shelving and food products inside the affected aisle.
Bomb disposal experts, K9 units, crime scene investigators and detectives were deployed to the scene as part of the ongoing investigation.
Images released by police showed extensive damage to shelving in the affected section of the store. Metal shelf panels appeared bent, torn open and punctured, while boxes of cereal and other packaged food products were scattered across the floor among debris.
The damaged aisle was later sealed off with tape while investigations continued.
Van Dyk confirmed that a case has been opened under the Explosives Act.
Police are investigating the matter under Section 27(1)(c) of the Explosives Act, Act 26 of 1956.
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