GRANITE CITY, Ill. (AP) — Police in a St. Louis suburb where a recycling plant explosion killed two people say it was caused by a mortar round.

The explosion happened Monday morning at Totall Metal Recycling in Granite City, Illinois, about 8 miles northeast of St. Louis.

Granite City Police Chief Rich Miller says Totall Metal Recycling has contracts with the military. He says it’s not unusual for the plant to have items such as “military engines and ammunition casings.”

A statement says company officials are cooperating in the investigation and extended their condolences to the families of the victims.

Police say the explosion occurred about 6:25 a.m. outside the plant.
Authorities have recovered the bodies of the two victims. They have not been identified.

A third person was injured and taken to a hospital.

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