Posted on 03/27/2005 5:24:42 PM PST by Down South P.E.
Terror in Texas?
Two separate Islamist groups have claimed responsibility for that explosion at a Texas chemical plant that killed 15 and injured more than 100. In an Internet statement, the Army of the Levant said it was behind the blast. But another group calling itself the al-Qaeda Organisation for Holy War in the United States of America promised to issue a video of the attack to prove it was responsible. The FBI says neither one of them was responsible, they've ruled out terrorism as the cause of the blast.
FBI says neither one of them was responsible, they've ruled out terrorism
There is nothing new here - move on...
We'll see if the islamderthals manage to produce a video.
FBI has ruled them out, lets not give them the credit they are looking for.
No video, no terror. It's the new paradigm of proof.
These are not the droids you want.
Same type of people who used a toy to pretend to capture a U.S. soldier and also claimed to be responsible for the Northeast blackout.
Okay. What have they ruled IN as the cause of the blast?
Every explosion in Israel produces at least a half dozen different claims of responsibility.
Bottom Line Clue IMO.......was the oil at this British Refinery from Islamic sources ie. OPEC?
The answer should be a 'bingo' or NO 'bingo'!
IMO
I am a fire and explosion investigator. Given the degree of damage, it seems a little early to rule out potential criminal activity.
Not saying that it was criminal mind you, but there is a systematic process to go through in such an investigation.
These wannabe terrorists are just opportunists like men who claim an earthquake during love-making as proof of their prowess.
Fatiguing Ping! Monday's comin at midnight!!!
In your estimation why would the FIB ...errrr, FBI...be so quick to rule out terrorism?
Okay, fine. Take these people at their word. If they figured out a way to get word out that they did it then we must have a way to figure out who they are and where they are. Find them and kill them.
All in all, however, they're just trying to scare America into a panic, but these colors don't run.
Regretably you can't necessarily trust either the terrorists or the FBI on this. It's pretty much FBI policy to deny any terrorist connections if possible. But the terrorists aren't credible either.
Once a-Q is exterminated, I reckon they'll still blow up once in a while.
Heck, the worst incident we ever had happened in 1947 about 4 miles from this one.
Mom was telling me about it today.. she was in high school and they called
all the Boy Scouts out of classes to help out in Texas City with evac and such.
March 24, 2005, 11:13PM
FBI finds no evidence of suspicious activity
Terrorism
By STEVE MCVICKER and MICHAEL HEDGES
Copyright 2005 Houston ChronicleThere is no validity to reported claims by two Islamic groups that they caused the fatal blast in Texas City, according to the Houston office of the FBI.
"There's no evidence to suggest there is any outside group involved in (Wednesday's) explosion," said FBI spokesman Al Tribble. Additionally, he said, at this point, the agency has no investigators at the BP plant.
"There's no criminal investigation as it pertains to terrorism at this time," said Tribble. "We're convinced through our bomb technicians, our personnel that were sent down there, the authorities that are on-site, and the BP officials that there are no reports of any breaches of security. There's been no suspicious activity reported. The blast characteristics aren't consistent with any sort of terrorist-type of threat or activity. So we pulled our people back."
March 25, 2005, 10:44AM
'We all want to know what happened and why'
Terrorism ruled out in blast, but may take a year to find cause
By ALLAN TURNER, KEVIN MORAN and DINA CAPPIELLO
Copyright 2005 Houston ChronicleFBI and Department of Homeland Security spokesmen discounted Thursday reported claims that the explosion had been the work of Islamic terrorists. Reuters news agency reported groups identifying themselves as al Qaeda Organisation for Holy War in the United States of America and Army of the Levant claimed responsibility for the blast.
"There's no evidence to suggest there is any outside group involved in (Wednesday's) explosion," said FBI spokesman Al Tribble. "There's no criminal investigation as it pertains to terrorism at this time."
March 26, 2005, 10:35PM
PROBE CLOSES IN ON BLAST CAUSE
Eleven are still hospitalized, 5 in critical condition; task of burying loved ones begins
By KEVIN MORAN and ALLAN TURNER
Copyright 2005 Houston ChronicleTEXAS CITY - A piece of equipment that breaks down a highly volatile liquid may have been the flashpoint for an explosion that killed 15 people and injured more than 100 at the BP oil refinery here, federal investigators said Saturday.
Known as a "raffinate splitter," the device distills naphtha in a process used in boosting octane in gasoline.
Preliminary evidence suggests the apparatus, which is part of the larger isomerization unit, was — or was near — the point at which flammable liquid or gas exploded.
The blast occurred as workers attempted to restart the octane-enhancing unit after two weeks' maintenance.
Michael Economides, a University of Houston chemical engineering professor familiar with the refining process, said that when a raffinate splitter is taken out of service for maintenance all flammable substances should be removed.
Liquid is drained, he said, and vapor is purged from the system with a blast of inert gas.
"These high-end hydrocarbons are not just flammable," he said, "they are eminently explosive ... This is big, intricate equipment with many nooks and crannies, and it is conceivable that there could have been a pocket of gas still somewhere in the unit."
Gas left in the system could be touched off by a welder's torch, or virtually any other source of ignition, with catastrophic results.
Economides, who never has visited the Texas City refinery, said gas remaining in the machinery also could have been responsible for a flash fire that erupted at the site Tuesday afternoon.
That blaze was quickly extinguished, and no one was injured.
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