Posted on 10/10/2005 2:13:03 PM PDT by .cnI redruM
An explosive device was detonated by the Los Angeles Police Department bomb squad outside of 527 Midvale Ave. on Friday afternoon.
A calm and quiet Westwood was briefly disrupted Friday afternoon when the Los Angeles Police Department bomb squad inspected and detonated an explosive device found within the Midvale Plaza apartment complex on the 500 block of Midvale Avenue.
After responding to a call made at 11:13 a.m., the bomb squad arrived at 527 Midvale Ave. to find "an improvised explosive device" in the building's open-air courtyard, said Grace Brady, a spokeswoman for the LAPD.
No injuries were reported, but authorities have been slow to release details about the incident and the device.
Residents said they first heard a small explosion sometime between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. Friday, but most said they went back to sleep. It was not until a resident found an explosive device later that morning that the police were called.
Police cars, FBI vehicles, ambulances, fire trucks and parking-enforcement vehicles blocked access to the street, and police officers restricted nearby pedestrian traffic while the bomb squad inspected the device. About 15 people waited at the corner of Midvale Avenue and Ophir Drive until they were allowed to return to their apartments near where the explosive was found.
Neither the apartment building nor nearby buildings were evacuated, but Paul Robi, a detective with the FBI bomb squad, said the squad executed "a moderate evacuation," which amounted to telling residents to stay off their balconies and in their apartments. Curious onlookers who stepped onto their balconies said they were immediately told to go back into their apartments.
Shortly after 1 p.m., the bomb squad remotely detonated the device. A low boom was audible for about a one-block radius, and several people who live across the street said they felt their apartments shake.
Beau Gillman, a second-year business economics student who lives across the street, said he heard shouts of "fire in the hole" before he heard and felt the explosion.
About five minutes later, police reopened the street to vehicles and pedestrians.
Most of the residents interviewed said they were aware of the situation, but they did not feel afraid or threatened. Most were surprised that someone would put an explosive in a Westwood apartment building.
Several residents said their apartments were briefly searched after the incident, but they said the searches did not appear to specifically target any residents. They also said it appeared to be apartment management who conducted the searches, though Midvale Plaza managers refused to comment.
Nancy Greenstein, director of the UCPD community services division, said UCPD officers were not on the scene Friday, but they routinely investigate suspicious packages. None of the recent calls to the department have revealed actual explosive devices, she said.
Another one? This is getting a little ridiculous. OU, GT, now UCLA.
I have been trying to get the link to work on the original sourse. Anyone else been able to get it to load?
BTW I am logged on.
I'm coming up with a blank page... Another case of the Media being "shut down"? Guess they didn't do it quick enough in regards to the OU thing. Coincidently, I come up with a blank page for the original news story for the East Chicago incident as well. Then again, perhaps the story was on a temp page and just moved. I've run across that before as well.
yes
another device at another college (UCLA) campus... ?
ping!
...I'm comming up with a blank page.
That was my thought also.
I think they can make our job harder but they can't stop us from looking for and requesting answers.
That's for sure... especially not with all the "on the ball" freepers around.... (o:
This kind of thing goes on all the time, its just that after OU everyone is edgey...hell I know people who put firecrackers surrounded by poppers or something that makes a loud noise...light it off as a joke. Or put them in a bottle with some sort of gas in it.. (I dont think its a bright idea)
was that sarcasm for you think this is a series of attacks? Or go back to sleep.
GA tech turned out to be a bottle attached to some fireworks...that couldnt even blow up a picnic table, E Chicago was just a "device" not a car bomb, and this...we'll see...but i do agree with you on OU...Thats troubling...he wasnt even an operative, he was just 'Inspried by allah'...his little inspiration could have killed hundreds. (Homegrown Terror)
Doesnt look like much but i thought you guys might want to know.
No, Drudge linked the page...than probably overwhelmed the server
Somebody accidently dropped their IED while on the way to work?
news blackout ping...
In East Chicago it was 3 explosive devices found in the trunk of the car...
From the Post/Tribune article:
"Bomb squad officers sent a robot to retrieve the package. When they attempted to open the package, an explosion occurred inside the vehicle.
Sheriff Roy Dominguez said three explosive devices were detonated by police."
About the GA Tech stuff - again 3 devices found which they are now calling them "soda bottle bombs". There is quite a bit of video available including audio of the detonation by the police - rather loud frankly.
Here are the links to the videos at News 11:
a.) News Report:
http://www.wxia.com/video/player.aspx?aid=44979&bw=
b.) Extended Video:
http://www.11alive.com/video/player.aspx?aid=44967&bw=
I'm obviously not an expert on explosives but it seems more than coincidence to me. How many explosive devices are normally found within a 7-day-period during a state of heightened alert?
Forgot to add, one of the 3 devices found at GA Tech also exploded when the package (a plastic bag) was opened by the janitor.
Freaking unbelieveable -- I would hate to be as dumb as law enforcement is saying we are with some of their comments.
Happy Ramadan, everyone.
There is definitely a pattern here......three incidents of explosives at soft targets....on or near college campuses.
And still no MSM reaction......duh?
Maybe they are trying to find a way to blame Bush before reporting?????
They might actually have to admit that we have Al Qaeda operating right here in this country that want to kill us and that Pres Bush was right to go after them.
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