Police have released CCTV footage of a man they are hunting over the discovery of an incendiary device in a shopping centre toilet.
The Fishergate Shopping Centre in Preston, Lancashire, was evacuated on Thursday morning after the device was found by a member of the public.
Lancashire Police said they believed it had ignited, adding that had it exploded it had the potential to cause "serious injury".
Chief Superintendent James Lee, South Division Commander for Preston, told local radio: "I would describe it as a small incendiary device which could have caused damage or injury to someone had it fully gone off."
The shopping centre was evacuated "as a precaution" and remained closed for the rest of the day. It is due to reopen as normal on Friday.
Detective Chief Inspector Jill Johnston, of Preston Police, said: "We are keen to speak to the man in this CCTV as we believe he could have information which could assist us.
"We are treating this as a criminal investigation and while the motivation for this incident remains unclear at this stage, we believe this device has been left there deliberately and did have the potential to cause serious injury if it had exploded."
The footage shows the man walking up an escalator in the city's St George's Shopping Centre just after 8.30am.
The device was discovered at the nearby Fishergate Shopping Centre some 40 minutes later and was recovered by bomb disposal officers.
One shopper, Adam Donnellan, tweeted: "Just been evacuated out of Preston fishergate shopping centre anyone heard anything? People running around like nut jobs."
Lancashire Police are appealing to anyone who recognises the man or has any further information to contact police on 101 and quote log number 293 of 17 December or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
SOURCE: SKY NEWS
EmoticonEmoticon