Homemade device explodes near Des Moines school

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police are questioning two students after a small, apparently homemade device exploded outside East High School in Des Moines.

School District spokesman Phil Roeder says the small blast took place on a sidewalk about 7:40 a.m. Wednesday, just as classes began. No one was injured and no property was damaged.

He says police told him the homemade device contained gunpowder. He had no further details.

Roeder says staff members outside the school heard the small explosion and saw four students running away. Roeder says the staff members caught the students and that police are questioning two of them.

Roeder says the staff members said the blast sounded similar to a car backfiring.

Police did not return a call seeking comment.