Tweet
Mailbox Explosives-Massachusetts
WESTMINSTER, Mass. (AP) - Investigators are warning residents in
Westminster and Ashburnham to be careful opening their mailboxes
after three homemade bombs were found in the two towns on Saturday.
Westminster Fire Chief Brenton W. MacAloney said the person or
persons who planted the bombs- two in Westminster and one in
Ashburnham - have at least a basic understanding of constructing
explosives.
The state fire marshal's office and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms are investigating.
"The fact that they were able to explode shows the person or
persons are beyond the trial stage," MacAloney told The Associated
Press, adding that the device suggests "middle of the road"
expertise in mixing chemicals to create an explosion.
"It's probably meant to cause damage," rather than harm
people, he said, "but it will cause injury." In one case, he
explained, a projectile was pushed out with enough force "to push
open the door of the mailbox and shoot across the street."
"There's enough force, enough chemicals in there, that someone
can get hurt," MacAloney said.
Two Westminster mailboxes and one in Ashburnham were blown up,
but no injuries were reported. MacAloney said all the mailbox
owners have in common is they live on the same rural road.
On Saturday morning in Ashburnham, police discovered a partially
destroyed plastic bottle in a mailbox. The container appeared to be
a homemade chemical explosive device, which included BB pellets and
small pieces of tin foil, Ashburnham Police Chief Roy Bourque told
the Telegram and Gazette of Worcester.
The devices are being analyzed at the state police crime lab.
A resident told police she heard a car driving by the house
around midnight, and then heard a loud explosion, which she at
first assumed was a firecracker.
MacAloney asked residents to use caution, to stand to the side
when opening their mailboxes. He said anyone who finds such a
device, exploded or unexploded, should call the fire department.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Maybe they should call the Police department instead? Who remembers the firefighter with the broomstick....not too long ago?
Earlville, Iowa, volunteer firefighter Leon Hildebrand keeps his distance while opening a rural mailbox with a wooden pole...
Westminster and Ashburnham to be careful opening their mailboxes
after three homemade bombs were found in the two towns on Saturday.
Westminster Fire Chief Brenton W. MacAloney said the person or
persons who planted the bombs- two in Westminster and one in
Ashburnham - have at least a basic understanding of constructing
explosives.
The state fire marshal's office and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms are investigating.
"The fact that they were able to explode shows the person or
persons are beyond the trial stage," MacAloney told The Associated
Press, adding that the device suggests "middle of the road"
expertise in mixing chemicals to create an explosion.
"It's probably meant to cause damage," rather than harm
people, he said, "but it will cause injury." In one case, he
explained, a projectile was pushed out with enough force "to push
open the door of the mailbox and shoot across the street."
"There's enough force, enough chemicals in there, that someone
can get hurt," MacAloney said.
Two Westminster mailboxes and one in Ashburnham were blown up,
but no injuries were reported. MacAloney said all the mailbox
owners have in common is they live on the same rural road.
On Saturday morning in Ashburnham, police discovered a partially
destroyed plastic bottle in a mailbox. The container appeared to be
a homemade chemical explosive device, which included BB pellets and
small pieces of tin foil, Ashburnham Police Chief Roy Bourque told
the Telegram and Gazette of Worcester.
The devices are being analyzed at the state police crime lab.
A resident told police she heard a car driving by the house
around midnight, and then heard a loud explosion, which she at
first assumed was a firecracker.
MacAloney asked residents to use caution, to stand to the side
when opening their mailboxes. He said anyone who finds such a
device, exploded or unexploded, should call the fire department.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Maybe they should call the Police department instead? Who remembers the firefighter with the broomstick....not too long ago?
Earlville, Iowa, volunteer firefighter Leon Hildebrand keeps his distance while opening a rural mailbox with a wooden pole...