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Early Halloween Costume Brings Out San Mateo Bomb Squad

SAN MATEO (CBS SF) — A man who decided to try out his costume and dress up ahead of Halloween prompted an explosives scare in downtown San Mateo Monday that resulted in the dispatch of a police bomb squad, authorities said.

Police received several calls about a man standing in front of a market along 4th Street wearing what witnesses described as a full gas mask and army gear with several grenades hanging around his neck.

The bomb squad responded to the scene and police said the man was detained; he was found with an "inert grenade," but police indicated there was "no current danger" to the public.

Police said the man's "early Halloween costume provoked (their) response."

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