Police are yet to determine the cause of an explosion at Westfield Belconnen Mall which shredded one man's jeans and sent cap gun pellets flying into the face of another onlooker on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
A 30-year-old man suffered burns and fragment injuries to his legs when the bag of cap gun ammunition he was carrying detonated just after 1pm in the crowded food court.
Aiden Novinc was standing only 150cm away from the man when the explosion occurred.
''It basically ripped his pants off,'' he said.
''His belt was everywhere, in pieces.''
Do you know more? Contact us on 02 6280 2211 or email online@canberratimes.com.au
The 16-year-old was also injured in the explosion, which sent cap gun pellets tearing into the right side of his body, narrowly missing his eye.
The former Donut King employee said he had finished his shift at the nearby Muffin Break and walked over to speak to friends when the explosion took place.
''I was just leaning over the counter, talking and it just exploded,'' he said.
''There were balloons and money all over the ground. The dude's belt was ripped off and his pants were shredded.'' Aiden said he had heard the injured 30-year-old was on his way to a party with the bag of cap gun ammunition, which detonated when the bag was placed on the ground.
A spokeswoman for ACT Health said the man was discharged from the Canberra Hospital yesterday. Four more people had also been assessed at the scene by intensive care paramedics on Saturday.
Donut King outlet owner Rick Collett was working at the time of the explosion, which he said threw the 30-year-old man back from the shop front.
''The impact pushed the guy with the bag back a couple of metres,'' he said.
''Fortunately, we've got laminated glass along the counter so it just all cracked.''
The damaged shopfront has since been covered with a promotional Donut King poster, featuring the word ''KAPOW''.
Mr Collett said the timing of the explosion and the nationwide campaign was purely accidental, and dismissed claims the incident was a marketing stunt.
''It's purely coincidence,'' he said. ''People are saying it was a publicity stunt, but there's no way.''
Mr Collett said there had been a lot of gossip throughout the centre about the explosion, which he was grateful damaged only the shopfront and a few bags of doughnuts.
''All my staff are fine, it's all just very fortunate,'' he said.
''Had he been facing the other way or if there was a kid there, it could have been worse.'' An ACT Policing spokeswoman said investigations into the cause of the detonation were continuing but no criminal charges would be laid.
Police officers were seen counting cash at the scene, which is believed to have belonged to the injured man.
With less than a week till Christmas, shoppers had returned in droves to the centre yesterday.
But Laura Lan, who works in Cafe Mochalat near the Donut King, said business was slower than it had been on Saturday.
This reporter is on Twitter: @stephanieando
