A car exploded in Birmingham as bomb squad experts attempted to carry out an examination.
British detectives were treating last night's incident as "a serious crime", although they have ruled out a terrorist connection, West Midlands Police said.
There was no evidence to connect the incident with the suspected ‘Real IRA’ car bomb that exploded in the city on November 3rd.
A police spokesman said they believed the explosion was caused by a propane gas cylinder and other flammable material placed in the car as "an improvised explosive device".
Officers were called to reports of a suspicious vehicle parked in the high street of the King's Heath area of the city at 9.30pm last night, the spokesman said.
"Police are treating the incident as an improvised explosive device and have emphasised that any passers-by could have been seriously injured.
"At this stage, the incident is not being connected to any terrorist activity but is being investigated by detectives at King's Heath police station as a serious crime."
PA