Explosives Cache Discovered By Police Along With Maps Highlighting Local Church Locations
September 15, 2006 by Homeland Security NTARC News
Filed under Homeland Security News
“Very devastating” is how Bradford Police Chief Ollie Bond described the amount of damage that could have been done by explosive materials found behind a building on Old U.S. 45 East Thursday morning. Bond said police were still searching for the owner of the material Thursday afternoon.
“It could have been very devastating, considering some of the things and materials that (the unknown suspects) had (left at the scene) and where they got it from, off the Internet, to produce the stuff,” Bond said. ”They were pretty much in the midst of completing their objective.”
Bond said he knows what the intended target was because the suspects left information behind. He declined to say what that information is. “We appreciate them leaving their target,” Bond said. “We appreciate their hard work (of leaving the information behind).”
A Bradford police officer was dispatched to the scene at 9 a.m. Thursday to investigate the explosive materials that had been found, Bond said.
Federal agents are downplaying the discovery of the cache of explosives, including maps higlighting local churches, and announced there is no evidence of a crime.
Nathaniel Jones, Special Agent-In-Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) in Memphis, said there are no suspects, and there will be no charges.
“A small amount of explosive material and fireworks were located at the residence,” said Jones. “There is no information or indication as to any criminal activity associated with the items recovered.
“As a result of our investigative efforts, there are no indications of any threats against any churches, a specific group of people, any office building or government facility or residence.”
Jones would not comment on the maps and church bulletins Bradford police say were discovered along with the explosive materials, leaving at least one elder of a church less than a mile away to wonder why the investigation ended so quickly.
