A 23-year-old man died when a firework he was holding in his hands exploded during an Independence Day celebration in Minnesota.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office identified the victim as Yaseen Samir Abumayyaleh, who suffered fatal injuries during the incident that occurred around 1:30 a.m. Sunday.

According to the Lake Johanna Fire Department, authorities received a 911 call reporting that a man had been seriously injured after a two-inch mortar he was carrying exploded.

The accident occurred on the rooftop of the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant, an abandoned ammunition factory located on undeveloped land north of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. According to the report, between 15 and 20 people were gathered at the scene when the explosion occurred.

The rescue was complicated by the conditions at the scene.

The person who called emergency services reported that the victim had serious injuries to his face and chest, was unconscious, but was still breathing.

Deputies from the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office, Lake Johanna firefighters and personnel from Allina Medical Transport responded to the scene.

Rescuers found the young man unconscious, but determined that the stairs of the abandoned building were unusable to safely evacuate him.

Initially, support was requested from the Minnesota Air Rescue Team, although the request was later canceled when it was found that it was possible to use a lifting platform from one of the fire trucks to lower the patient from the roof.

Abumayyaleh was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery. However, he died as a result of his injuries.

They investigate the accident

The Lake Johanna Fire Department reported that several state and local agencies are conducting an investigation to determine the circumstances of the accident.

In a statement, the institution expressed its condolences to the young man's family and friends.

Abumayyaleh was a member of the Young Muslims of Minnesota organization, which also mourned his death through a public message in which he asked for strength for his family.

Friends and family shared numerous tributes on social media. One of his cousins ​​said that the crowd that attended his funeral reflected the impact he had on his community.

Fire Chief Tim Boehlke told the Minnesota Star Tribune that all aerial or explosive fireworks are illegal in Minnesota.

He also added that the old ammunition plant is considered a dangerous site, frequently visited by young people and urban explorers who enter irregularly to meet or set off fireworks.

According to state Fire Marshal Dan Krier, fireworks-related injuries are relatively common in Minnesota, although deaths are rare. Since 2021, four deaths have been recorded due to this type of accidents in the state, including that of Abumayyaleh.

The Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant was built by the federal government in the early 1940s to manufacture ammunition for the U.S. Army during World War II. The facility stopped operating in 1976 and currently remains abandoned, although this year it was acquired by a private developer, who acknowledged that it has been difficult to prevent people from entering the facility due to constant acts of invasion of the property.