Salt Lake City fire officials investigate suspicious device in van

A man who had left his van at a business in Salt Lake City found a suspicious device inside when he started the vehicle a week later.

Salt Lake City Fire Department Spokesman Jasen Asay said Tuesday that the "incendiary device" was mysteriously placed inside the van by an unknown suspect sometime after the van was left at the business. The man reported it to 911 dispatchers on Monday.

Asay, citing the ongoing investigation, declined to describe the device further, but said that arson investigators were looking into the case and that the device was being examined at the State Crime Lab.

"[Investigators] do believe that this device, had it functioned properly, it could have started a fire inside the van," Asay said.

The van was parked at 557 S. 600 West, Asay said. It was unclear Tuesday night who would have placed the device in the van or for what reason.

kbennion@sltrib.com

Twitter: @KimballBennion