Mailbox Package Explodes in Philly

AP, via Las Vegas Sun ^ | Today: May 14, 2002 at 6:50:21 PDT | Staff

[KirkandBurke]

Mailbox Package Explodes in Philly

PHILADELPHIA- Federal agencies were investigating the origin of a mailbox package that exploded while being defused by a bomb squad after a mail carrier became alarmed by an attached note.

"He saw a package. He didn't like the looks of it, he didn't like the writing on it," FBI spokeswoman Linda Vizi said.

Bystanders Maria Gonzalez and Joe Johnson said the mail carrier told them the note said "Free Palestine" and mentioned al-Qaida, Osama bin Laden's terrorist network. A police official who spoke on the condition of anonymity confirmed that account.

The carrier didn't handle the package and the bomb squad was called to examine it. The squad was attempting to disarm it from a safe distance when the bomb detonated. The blast sprayed shrapnel for 100 feet, but no one was injured, Vizi said.

The device was wrapped in a foam box and packed with nails. It also had a sophisticated switch to allow the bomber to plant it safely and avoid a premature explosion, authorities said.

The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, the FBI, postal service and the region's Joint Terrorism Task Force were investigating. Postal officials said they sent out an alert to warn all area postal employees.

"We're very concerned at this point," said John R. Sinnen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Gonzalez said the explosion hurled at least three chunks of metal into the street. The blast left a black scuff mark on the street but caused no other visible damage in the residential neighborhood.

Postal workers have been more alert since six pipe bombs hidden in rural mailboxes exploded in Iowa and Illinois earlier this month, injuring four letter carriers and two residents. College student Luke Helder has been charged in that unrelated case with leaving those and 12 other bombs in five states.

[KirkandBurke]

Copycats? Domestic weirdos? Sleepers?

Somebody wants us to be afraid.

[muawiyah]

Thankyou police for taking the carrier's word.

[KirkandBurke]

BUMP

[RaceBannon]

bump

[white trash redneck]

Looks like the religion of peace raises its ugly head again.

[KirkandBurke]

...or a provacateur using them for cover.

[Wolfie]

If (and I stress IF), there's a "glass half-full" effect here, it will be that these continuing mail-bombings force the prosecutors hand into dealing with the snot-nosed "smiley face" bomber as harshly as possible.

[kjam22]

He saw a package. He didn't like the looks of it, he didn't like the writing on it,"

The wires and timer on the outside of it made him nervous?

[Ciexyz]

When I first heard about the mailbox bombs in Iowa, my first thought was, this sounds like economic terrorism, someone wants to damage the ability of the US Postal Service to perform its service mission. The competition, maybe? UPS or internet providers? And now here's another case of attacking the Postal Service. It frightens and intimidates mail carriers and the public. If people become afraid to receive items thru the mail, then the economic competition against the Post Office will win.

[KirkandBurke]

It would seem to me that the "smiley face kid" ought to be looking at attempted murder. If the prosecution doesn't seek that, they have no grapefruit.

[KirkandBurke]

Ooooh! Talk about ruthless competition.

[irgbar-man]

Welcome to the forum. Your screenname is apt, newbie.

[KirkandBurke]

Explosives? No,no,no those were art supplies. The Israeli art students needed some special , um, clay, yeah that's it, clay, to work with. And some, uh, paint thinner and some.....

[eastsider]

Interesting that of the big networks only FOX News is carrying this story.

I heard it on the radio this morning, WCBS-AM.

[browardchad]

I'm sure there's no connection whatsoever to the fact that Israelis are running explosives into this country, oops, I'm sorry, cleared of running explosives.

What does a debunked story on Fox News have to do with a potentially-lethal explosion in a Philadelphia mailbox? BTW, the reports say the pair in Washington state are "claiming" to be Israeli nationals -- which means they could be Arabs, and they could be lying.

Another tidbit, if you're off on Israeli conspiracies: Prince Alwaleed of Saudi Arabia (nephew of Crown Prince Abdullah) owns as much stock in Fox (Newscorp) as its founder Rupert Murdoch. Could that be influencing these bizarre unconfirmed "Israeli conspiracy" theories by Carl Cameron? That theory is just as feasible as your unsubstantiated innuendoes.

[Poohbah]

I'm Astonished that a passin pilgrim from Kudzu Flats would claim to be a Harvard Man but really was a jauntybeesting suffering from a corebreech...

[corebreech]

Debunked story? I'd say it hasn't even begun.

The nationality was confirmed by a check of the database of national immigration records. The country of origin would be included in this information.

And what does the amount of stock in FOX News a Saudi prince owns have to do with anything? Are you saying that ownership of a newspaper or TV network influences the kind of news they carry?

Would this affect the kind of news carries by newspapers and TV networks owned by Jews too?

Are you an Israeli, or are you American?

[MEGoody]

Of COURSE it affects the kind of news they carry, particularly if the individual who was a big owner in the station was the 'prince' of a country known for their policy of NO FREE SPEECH.

[MarkWar]

>The device was wrapped in a foam box and packed with nails. It also had a sophisticated switch to allow the bomber to plant it safely and avoid a premature explosion

1) This doesn't sound like some simpleton. The nails and the switch sounds like a pro.

2) The fact that it was found -- if it was left by a pro -- might be an explicit warning, he/she/they may have wanted it to be found to up the terror quotient when the next device isn't found and goes off...

Mark W.