Posted on 10/01/2005 7:05:29 PM PDT by blogblogginaway
Edited on 10/01/2005 7:21:56 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
The explosion happened at the courtyard near the George Lynn Cross Hall, Botany-Microbiology Building on OU's campus, which is west of the stadium, according to Sgt. Gary Robinson of the University police department. The explosion happened during the second quarter of Oklahoma's game against Kansas State. After the explosion, police set up a perimeter of several blocks and made fans exit the stadium to the east.
NORMAN -- An explosion near the University of Oklahoma's Gaylord Family-Memorial Stadium killed one person Saturday, OU officials said.
If it involves explosives, it comes under the BATF(Explosives). Federal. Same as the Murrah Bldg, though the Murrah Bldg. was a federal building to boot, giving the feds jurisdiction.
I never said it wasn't newsworthy. I said if it was a suicide it didn't merit 24/7 news coverage. Wait till some facts start coming out.
The most intelligent comment yet posted on this thread.
Damned shame there haven't been more like it.
"TV news is 90% visual and 90% hype (the old 90/90 rule)"
yep..and I guess 10% is made up of whole cloth by Mary Mapes and stapled to Dan Rather's mouth. lol
I don't know the exact spot, because it was still taped off when we left Norman this afternoon, but here is a satellite photo of the area. Of course, you can see the stadium. I'm not sure how to describe the spot of the explosion to you on the photo, but if you look at the stadium, go to the left (west) stands, where they extend further out; follow in a straight line to the left to the first building with a very white roof (before the tree-lined mall area.); this is almost a t-shape with two different buildings, and I believe the bomb went off in the area north of that, in the shadow of that building on this photo.
It is paved (sidewalks.) Most explosions will (generally) follow the path of least resistance; in other words, they will not make a crater. Artillery shells have significant downward force from their trajectory that causes them to penetrate the ground. Even the Murrah building bomd, whose force destroyed a building, did not crater the street, so far as I know.
KFOR just reported an explosion in downtown Norman tonight. At this moment they do not know if it is in anyway related to last night's bombing. Maybe a link is up on KFOR. I'll check.
There was a rather large crater in the street in front of the Murrah Building
To all in Norman, I hope tomorrow is a better day for you and you can return to somewhat normal in the next couple of days.
I just heard the explosion and I live about two - three miles from downtown. I didn't want to post anything because I thought I was hearing things but it rattled my window by the computer. I was there last night and heard the same type of explosion. Channel 9 showed the bomb squad taking away items from the apartment complex all day.
The head of the person's fraternity disputed David Boren that this person was depressed. No one seems to be buying into the theory of Boren that has been interviewed to date.
FBI is the lead agency and being assisted by the Norman Bomb Squad.
I heard another explosion just about 15 minutes ago -- was glad someone posted here that KFOR was reporting an explosion in downtown Norman because I thought I was beginning to hear things.
Didn't know it was large- thanks. That was a rather larger explosive than this one is reported to have been. It was loud, but I would be surprised if there was a crater if he was on pavement. Even on grass I'd be a little surprised. It would take an awfully large blast to crater a hard surface.
Exactly -- ATF -- that I would understand but this is under the umbrella of the FBI not ATF.
Thanks. I am back home in Texas tonight, but my son is at OU.
Oh hell....
LOL, PhiKapMom. The FReepers on a different thread are calling us fools and tinfoil heads for doubting Islam's (probable) role in these blasts.
Interesting. I just found this on newsok.com
/Users/garybarrett/Desktop/o2hinrichs.jpg
http://www.newsok.com/article/1632030/?template=home/main
oh no..here we go again.
OU says student who blew himself up had history of problems
Extensive campus search turns up no other explosive devices
09:09 PM CDT on Sunday, October 2, 2005
By ARNOLD HAMILTON
NORMAN, Okla. – A University of Oklahoma student who killed himself by detonating a bomb near the jam-packed Sooner football stadium apparently had a history of emotional problems, authorities said Sunday.
Federal and state agents identified the man as John Henry Hinrichs III, 21, an engineering major at OU.
"He clearly was a very bright student," Mr. Boren said, yet one who "had very serious personal problems that led to this tragic death."
Mr. Hinrichs' father, Joel Henry Hinrichs Jr., said he was very surprised to hear the news about his son.
"We exchanged e-mails on an irregular basis, several in the last month, and nothing seemed out the ordinary," the father told The Associated Press.
His son was a National Merit Scholar who graduated in May 2002 from Wasson High School in Colorado Springs, Colo., and began attending OU in the fall of that year with a major in mechanical engineering.
"He was a very intelligent, very private individual who somehow lost the confidence that his life would be a good one," the elder Hinrichs said. "Obviously, every parent believes their son is a good kid, and I certainly believed that about mine."
Mr. Boren said authorities told him there was no indication that anyone else was involved with Mr. Hinrichs – or that he attempted to enter the stadium, where the Sooners and Kansas State were playing Saturday night. More than 80,000 fans attended the game, and some heard and felt the explosion.
"At this point, we have no information that suggests that there is any additional threat posed by others related to this incident," said a joint statement from the FBI's Oklahoma chief, Salvador Hernandez; U.S. Attorney John Richter; and OU Police Chief Elizabeth Woolen.
Mr. Hinrichs detonated the bomb while sitting on a park bench outside Cross Hall, one of the university's science buildings, just west of the stadium.
Authorities initially feared another explosive device might be inside a backpack near the body. They deployed a robot and some mild explosives in an attempt to detonate the backpack but determined there were no explosives inside.
Early Sunday, law officers and school officials also evacuated four buildings in Mr. Hinrich's nearby university-owned housing complex, Parkview Apartments, to search for evidence, including perhaps more explosives.
The complex, about four blocks southeast of the football stadium, remained cordoned off Sunday afternoon as law officers combed the area.
The estimated 35 to 40 student residents were moved temporarily into Norman hotels, where they were expected to remain until at least today.
Mr. Boren suggested Mr. Hinrichs could have chosen the location – and the time – to ensure the most attention for his death – or because that area of campus is especially serene and picturesque.
"He has had what I would call emotional difficulties in the past," Mr. Boren said.
The area near the detonation site, just west of the football stadium, was pretty much back to normal Sunday afternoon. University officials were busy replacing shattered windows in Cross Hall.
The Associated Press
I really thought I was spooked until I saw someone say KFOR was reporting an explosion in downtown Norman. I am hoping it was the detonation of a device they found today but don't know why they would detonate downtown.
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