Rider loses finger after picking up explosive device, thinking it was a vape

A 34-year-old motorcycle rider in Manila lost his finger after he accidentally picked up an improvised explosive device (IED), mistaking it for a vape.

According to Jhomer Apresto's report on "24 Oras," video from the Sta. Ana Police Station showed the victim on his motorcycle in front of a public market in Pedro Gil.

The victim appeared to be fiddling with an object until it exploded in his hands. The victim’s live-in partner rushed to his side, as well as other onlookers.

A tricycle driver saw the incident and rushed the man to the hospital.

“Pagharap sa akin, puno na ng dugo yung lalaki,” Vic said. (When he faced me, the man was bloodied.)

Authorities closed off the area on Monday night after the incident so that the Scene of the Crime Operatives and the Manila Police District’s Explosive and K-9 Unit

The victim sustained wounds to the face, stomach, and hands.

Despite being the only one who was injured in the incident, the man was arrested by authorities over illegal possession of explosives.

While the victim is in police custody, he was also taken to the orthopedic center because his finger needed to be cut off.

“Dapat, ang ginawa talaga niya, is upon checking nung ganoong gamit, tumawag siya sa barangay o sa pulis kaagad para ma-check,” Police Lt. Col. Richard Villanueva said.

(What he should have really done, upon checking an object like that, is call the barangay or the police to have it checked right away.)

Villanueva said that there have already been multiple cases of people being injured for accidentally picking up explosive objects. –Jean Mangalum/NB, GMA News