Early this morning, homemade explosives, made with empty beverage containers, were detonated by unknown people, causing an explosion loud enough to wake several people in the RiverPointe neighborhood. The device design has been seen recently in the same neighborhood, and presents a high degree of hazard and risk to life-safety for those who make and ignite the devices. In an earlier case, one of the unexploded devices was left in the street with a fuse still exposed. While no suspects have yet been identified, police are reviewing available evidence in this case and the previous case and there is a possibility that the crime is being committed by juveniles. For this reason, parents are encouraged to speak to their kids about the danger of making homemade fireworks or explosives. Dozens of people are injured every year while making and detonating homemade explosives; even when a relatively small amount of propellant is used in the device.
Safety Rules - http://www.oregon.gov/osp/AES/Pages/Improvised_Explosive_Devices.aspx
• Primary rule: If a suspected device is encountered, it should not be handled and the area should be secured.
• Secondary rule: Always assume that there is more than one device present, whether it is a bombing, a threat, or a device that has been located.
• Never pick up or disassemble a pipe bomb or any other IED, even if someone else has.
• The powder in the threads can set it off, or it may have a timer and/or movement switch.
###