Police: Drugs, explosive devices found inside van in East Germantown [updated]

Philadelphia police found two explosive devices inside a van with young children in it.

Police made the discovery after spotting a minivan that was double-parked in the city’s East Germantown neighborhood Tuesday night.

Officers say they smelled marijuana and found a large jar of prescription cough syrup, a lot of pot, and a black bag containing dynamite-like explosives. Two 3-year-old children were also in the van. Homes in the area were evacuated.

Police arrested the 32-year-old old driver, Derek McKinney. He was charged with possession, endangering the welfare of a child, and recklessly endangering another person. Officials say the bomb squad confiscated homemade explosive devices that are the equivalent of two quarter sticks of dynamite.

Police initially said the timing of the incident is concerning as the Democratic National Convention is set to take place in Philadelphia next week.

But police spokesman Lt. John Stanford later said police found no political motive.

“No indication that this has anything to do with the DNC or anything like that,” he said. “It’s just an isolated incident … Just somebody who was doing something he just had no business. But nothing to do with any other situation.”