Free Press Staff

A young man suffered injuries to a hand when a pipe bomb exploded Wednesday afternoon in Burlington, city police say.

The Burlington Police Department and the Vermont State Police bomb squad were investigating the detonation, along with federal authorities. The investigation unfolded in the shopping plaza parking lot outside the HomeGoods store on the west side of Shelburne Street in Burlington, next to Price Chopper.

Three people — a young woman and two male passengers — were driving in a car from Interstate 189 to Shelburne Road, on their way to the beach, police say, when the explosion occurred inside the vehicle, Police Chief Brandon del Pozo said.

All three were adolescents. Their names and other information were not immediately released.

One of the male passengers was holding the small device when it detonated inside the new, two-door Kia sedan, which still had paper tags. The vehicle pulled into the Shelburne Road Plaza, and the occupants called police.

"The explosion blew off at least one of the male's digits," del Pozo said.

Law enforcement was investigating why the three had a pipe bomb.

The injured male was taken to the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington. His injuries were not life-threatening, del Pozo said.

The car's driver and the other passenger were being questioned by police, Warren said.

Burlington Fire Department crews were on the scene. The bomb squad arrived shortly after, and team members wearing protective gear including vests and helmets examined the contents of the car.

Later, a cluster of police and fire officials surrounded the vehicle. Shortly afterward, the fire department left the scene.

The police investigation continues in Jericho, where police said the young injured male built the small pipe bomb.

"We don’t believe he has a record or that he is a danger to the public," del Pozo said. "But we want to make sure this is isolated — make sure there’s not a cache of pipe bombs around. Then we’ll take it from there."

Del Pozo said the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is considering charges.

Contributing: Nicole Higgins DeSmet and Elizabeth Murray of the Free Press. Do you have a breaking news tip? Call us at 802-660-6500 or send us a post on Facebook or Twitter using #BFPTips.​