Aspen – Bombs Wrapped Like Christmas Gifts Delivered To Banks – Suspect Found Dead

Aspen Bomb Suspect

A man delivered bombs wrapped as Christmas presents to two banks Wednesday along with notes threatening “mass death” if they did not turn over tens of thousands of dollars, Aspen police said Thursday.

Authorities were quickly alerted, and the man apparently halted his plan — leaving two bombs in an alley that were likely intended for other banks, police said.

The man, identified as James Blanning, 72, who had had previous contacts with law enforcement, was later found dead after apparently shooting himself, police said.

His body was found in his car in a rural area east of Aspen.

The incidents Wednesday sparked the evacuation of a 16-block area of Aspen on New Year’s Eve, one of the busiest days of the year for businesses in Aspen.

Bomb squads ultimately detonated the devices, and no one was injured.

Evacuation orders were lifted early Thursday.

Source – CNN.com.

The following is the text of four identical notes left with gasoline bombs by a man who was found dead and who police said was trying to extort Aspen, Colo., banks on New Year’s Eve:

YOU HAD BETTER BE A VERY COOL INDIVIDUAL AND NOT START A PANIC OR MANY IN ASPEN WILL PAY A HORRIBLE PRICE IN BLOOD.

WE HAVE ALL OF THE COP THREATS TO US UNDER VERY SOPHISTICATED ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE. DO NOT F— WITH US OR THERE WILL BE MASS DEATH LIKE WE HAVE ALL BEEN PART OF OVER IN THAT F—ING QUICKSAND TRAP THAT ROVE’S AND CHANEY’S MONKEY BUS PUT US INTO WHERE SO MANY OF OUR SOUL MATES AND BROTHERS DIED VERY HORRIBLE DEATHS.

DO NOT MOVE OR COVER THE VERY BIG FIRE CRACKER IN THE PLASTIC CONTAINER. UNIQUE CHEMICALS AND ELECTRONICS.

TAKE THIS SHEET AND THE WHITE BOX TO THE ACTING HEAD TELLER. THE OTHER THREE ASPEN BANKS ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING THIS ONE IS AND THIS IS AS MUCH A SUICIDE MISSION AS A BANK ROBBERY, SO, IF IT GETS F—-D UP, OUR SOULS HAVE ALREADY BEEN DESTROYED AND WE WILL ALL DIE LIKE THE RAG-HEAD MARTYRS THAT WE WERE KILLING OVER THERE. THEY TRAINED US GOOD FOR THIS SORT OF THING.

PUT $60,000 IN USED $100s IN THE WHITE BOX. ANY DYES, TRACKERS, OR OTHER BULLS—T WILL CAUSE DISASTER TO ALL.

IN 20 MINUTES HAVE SOMEONE TAKE THE WHITE BOX OUTSIDE THE FRONT OF THE BANK AND WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE COMES UP AND POINTS DIRECTLY TO THE BOX WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING, THEN GIVE IT TO HIM. HE HAS BEEN AND IS WELL COVERED.

AFTER 2 HOURS THE FIRE CRACKER (IED), IF NOT DISTURBED, WILL AUTOMATICALLY DEACTIVATE AND CAN BE MOVED TO A SAFE PLACE (THE DUMP?) TO BE DISPOSED OF. FOR VERY UNIQUE CHEMICAL REASONS, WE RECOMMEND THAT ALL BE SET ON FIRE. WE LEARNED SOME NASTY CHEMISTRY FROM THE MARTYRS, ETC.

PS – FOR ADDED INSURANCE, THERE IS ALSO A FIFTH FIRE CRACKER HIDDEN IN A HIGH END WATERING HOLE THAT WE WILL REMOVE AFTER WE ARE FULLY CLEAR AND KNOW FOR SURE ALL HAS GONE WELL. F— THE WHOLE WORLD, ALREADY.

Source: Aspen Police Department

Killer Virus Vomiting Bug Grips Britain

Millions face being struck down by a deadly winter vomiting bug sweeping the country. You may remember this same vomiting bug struck last year, however experts are saying itr could be even worse this time.

Scores of hospitals have been forced to close wards to new patients as they struggle to cope with the influx of norovirus sufferers.

One of London’s leading hospitals has even had to turn away 999 emergency patients after being overwhelmed with cases of the virus, while another hospital has drafted in GPs to cover for staff hit by the bug.

As the crisis deepens, health campaigners are warning that hospitals face going into “complete meltdown” over Christmas and New Year.

Last year more than three million people were struck down by the bug as it reached epidemic levels. Now experts are warning that the virus could affect even more this year.

It appears to be taking hold much earlier than usual.

Last night the Health Protection Agency warned that it was expecting the number of cases to escalate.

Geoff Martin, of the campaign group Health Emergency, said: “Christmas and New Year are a notoriously busy time and the fact that hospitals can’t cope already is very, very ominous. Winter and Christmas are always extremely difficult for hospitals.

“People giving germs to each other means more flu, the cold weather means a lot more respiratory problems, especially for the elderly, and everyone’s out drinking a lot so there are more injuries that way, too.

“The busiest period is still two weeks away and it is evident that hospitals can’t cope.

“If the Secretary of State for Health does not do something about this, there could be a complete meltdown and a full-blown crisis.

“It would be the worst I have seen in five or six years.”

At its height last year the virus, which causes projectile vomiting, diarrhoea, mild fever and headaches, was striking down more than 200,000 a week. The illness can prove deadly for the vulnerable –  children and the elderly.

So far there have been 1,575 reported cases since July but officials fear the figure could be 100 times higher as most sufferers do not report it. St George’s hospital, one of London’s three major trauma centres, was forced to turn away ambulances last Monday because it had run out of beds.

Hospital chiefs said they had suffered a 14 per cent surge in demand over the weekend, compared to the same time last year.

Patients had to be diverted to neighbouring hospitals, all of which have reported serious pressure on their capacities.

A survey by the Daily Express found that hospitals across the country were, on average, each shutting off between eight and nine wards to new admissions and visitors.

At least 21 hospitals have had to isolate patients.

Daily Express