Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2014-09-05

Two separate explosions have rocked the suburbs of Athlone and Crawford in Cape Town late on Thursday night, Western Cape police said.

The blasts went off outside the Woolworths branch in Kromboom Road and AutoBelgravia in Belgravia Road, Athlone.

“We can confirm that two incidents of explosions occurred last night [Thursday] just after 11pm – one in Belgravia Road, Athlone… and the other one at the corner of Jan Smuts and Kromboom roads,” Captain Frederick Van Wyk said.

The two addresses are a few minutes’ walk from each other.

“Cases of malicious damage to property were opened for investigation, [but there are] no arrests as yet,” he said.

Van Wyk said there were no reports of injuries or fatalities.

Woolworths South Africa confirmed to Eye Witness News that an explosion shattered a store window on Kromboom Road in Crawford.

In a statement, the retailer said no injuries were reported and an investigation into the explosion with authorities is underway.

In a separate incident, the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Services says it responded to a car which was on fire following an apparent explosion outside a car dealership on Belgravia Road in Athlone.

“When we arrived there we had one motor vehicle that was burning. The cause was determined to be some type of device because bystanders had indicated that there was an explosion prior to the burning.” the services Theo Layne said.

There was widespread speculation on Friday morning about whether the explosion could have been an “ATM-bombing”.

Police would not confirm whether the incidents were “pipe bombs”, as speculated.

(Twitter: @Faizie143)