DETROIT – A bottle containing potentially dangerous chemicals was removed from John King Used and Rare Books in Detroit, prompting road closures around the store.
According to the Detroit Fire Department, a staff member found the bottle while she was cleaning. She said she studied chemistry at Wayne State and realized the chemical might be unstable, so she brought the bottle outside the store located on Lafayette Boulevard.
The staff member said they collect antiques in addition to books, and the bottle was part of the collection.
Once the bottle was placed outside and first responders were called, multiple streets were closed on Aug. 31 as a safety measure while crews worked to safely remove the bottle.
Officials said the bottle was filled with picric acid and Antimonium Sulphuratum.
Picric acid is a colorless to yellow crystalline solid -- it can be highly explosive when dry. Antimonium Sulphuratum, when heavily diluted, is used to treat specific respiratory and skin conditions.
No injuries were reported.
In a social media post, the bookstore thanked first responders for “keeping us from being violently disassembled!”
