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Deadly Explosives Missing Idaho Officials Search for Culprits

June 20 — A potentially deadly amount of commercial explosives is missing from a bunker in Idaho, and federal investigators are joining local law enforcement officials there in a search for the culprits and their loot.

Someone broke into a storage unit at Intermountain West Energy in Ada County, Idaho — which includes Boise — and made off with 800 pounds of explosives and 1,500 blasting caps used in detonation. Law enforcement officials are offering a $5,000 reward for anyone who can help track down the explosives and those who stole them. "We think somebody out there saw or has overheard something that we need to know about to help us identify these thieves and get the explosives back, said Sheriff's Lt. Ted Bowers.

Investigators believe the thieves who busted into the bunker did not steal the explosives with the intention of causing a massive detonation or hurting anyone. In the past, they said, thieves have pilfered bomb-making materials in the hopes of selling them for a profit.

But Mark Martin of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms says the thieves probably won't have too much luck selling their booty, which is estimated in value at $4,500. "Some people will buy it cause it's a novelty, but really there's not a big market for it," he said.

It might not be in too much demand, but the explosives and caps can be quite dangerous, Martin added.

"A blasting cap can detonate for little or no reason when they're not properly handled or stored," Martin said. "A single blasting cap will, if you hold it in your hand, blow your hand off."

If a blasting cap were to detonate near the explosives, Martin said, "then you're going to have a very devastating explosive event."

Anyone with information that could be helpful to investigators can call a toll free hotline at 1-888-ATF-BOMB.

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001

Answers

Good heavens, that's a lot of stuff!

I wonder if it's connected with the guy who escaped from jail, the one who says God told him to kill abortion providers? Apparently, he posted on the Army of God page and he DID escape from jail four months ago.

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001

I'm more worried about people taking revenge for T. McVeigh's death, as some don't think he acted alone. What if it were the others that were involved? Hmmm?

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001