Joliet police discover explosives at casino hotel were fireworks

Unmarked explosives found inside Harrah’s casino hotel in Joliet turned out to be “commercial-grade fireworks,” police said.

On Friday, housekeeping staff at Harrah’s casino hotel in downtown Joliet found what they believed to be unmarked explosives inside a guest room, according to a statement from the Joliet Police Department.

Police responded at 11:55 a.m. Friday, and the casino was immediately evacuated, police said.

A bomb squad from the Cook County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene and determined that the unmarked explosives were “commercial-grade fireworks,” police said.

“Additional commercial-grade fireworks were also located in a vehicle in the casino parking garage, believed to be related to the hotel room,” police said.

Barring exceptions in the Illinois Pyrotechnic Use Act, it is unlawful by Joliet ordinance for anyone to possess, offer for sale, display for sell, use or explode any fireworks.

After the Cook County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad took custody of the fireworks for disposal, the casino, hotel and parking garage were reopened to the public, police said.

“This remains an active investigation,” police said.