Empty fireworks found in Watertown

WATERTOWN, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Investigators evacuated a Watertown store Wednesday after empty firework cartridges were found nearby.

Witnesses tell FOX 25 a collections worker for Planet Aid found the fireworks in a clothing bin used for recycled clothing. They say the cartridges were empty, double-bagged, and still had their fuses intact. The gun powder had been removed.

A nearby store was evacuated just before 1 p.m. Wednesday. Customers were allowed back inside at about 2 p.m., but the parking lot remained taped off as the FBI and other investigators remained on scene for nearly six hours.

While it is currently unclear whether or not the fireworks have any connection to the Boston Marathon bombings, Tamerlan Tsarnaev reportedly purchased nearly $200 worth of fireworks from a New Hampshire store in February. Experts believe the powder contained in the fireworks could be harvested to create a bomb.

Planet Aid tells FOX 25 workers collected clothing from the same bin on April 21. Marathon bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed in an exchange of gunfire with police on April 19. His brother, Dzhokhar, was arrested the same day. It is unclear if the bag of empty fireworks was left behind after the April 21 collection or if it was placed in the bin after that collection.

Investigators towed the bin away from the scene Wednesday night to check it for fingerprints.

Cox Media Group