Still image captured from video surveillance footage of a van that was in the area of the downtown Atchison explosion early Friday morning.

(KAIR)--A $5,000 reward is being offered as the investigation into the cause of an early Friday morning downtown Atchison explosion progresses.

Investigators believe the explosion was intentional, caused by an explosive device. Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson on Friday told MSC News officers from his department, as well as agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Kansas Highway Patrol, and others, were actively investigating the blast, which left businesses damaged in the 100 block of North 8th Street. “There's a number of resources that we utilize. Obviously, I've talked about ATF agents that are here, as well as Fire Marshal agents that are here, but we've also utilized KHP bomb dogs, used an aircraft searching for certain things. Obviously, we're doing many interviews.”

According to a news release jointly issued Friday evening by the ATF and Atchison Police, the reward is offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

The “post-blast” investigation reveals that an improvised explosive device, placed outside the Hair Spital Barber Shop, at 120 North 8th Street, is the cause of the blast that shattered windows and spread debris across a one block area.

Surveillance video footage, and image captures from the video, have been made public.

According to the release, the footage was captured by a business, near the blast, moments before the device detonated. Captured in the footage is a vehicle, identified as a minivan believed to be a 2004 to 2008 Nissan Quest.

Anyone with information about the vehicle is asked to contact investigators at 1-888-ATF-BOMB, or 1-888-283-2662.

The ATF can also be contacted at www.atf.gov/contact/atftips, or text 63975 using the code ATFKC. Tipsters can remain anonymous. 

Although businesses in the area surrounding the barber shop also incurred  damage, the explosion caused no injuries.

It happened around 2:30 Friday morning. 

Photo credit: Brian Hagen/MSC News