Investigation underway after homemade bomb discovered outside Lewiston hotel

Authorities are looking for a person responsible for leaving a bomb outside of a hotel Saturday afternoon in Lewiston, Idaho.

At about 1 p.m., workers of the Days Inn hotel, 3120 North South Highway, discovered an “oblong” device with a “fuse sticking out of it” outside of the north entrance, Lewiston police wrote in a news release. Officers responded and cordoned off the area.

A bomb squad from the Spokane Police Department was called in to investigate the device further. Police said the squad was able to destroy the bomb – described as a homemade explosive device wrapped in electrical tape – without attempting detonation. Spokane police believe the propellant contained within came from a commercial firework.

Police performed a sweep of the hotel for further devices but none were located.

The Lewiston Police Department is asking anyone with information to call its crime tip hotline at (208) 748-2746.