Dirty bomb scare at Texas Medical Center
03:44 PM CST on Wednesday, February 25, 2004
By Amy Tortolani / 11 News
HOUSTON -- Houston police, FBI and a Hazmat team moved into the Texas Medical Center quickly after a man claimed he had chemicals to make dirty bombs and planned to detonate them.
Houston police and FBI agents cordoned off the area around Holcombe and Shamrock around 9:30 Tuesday night. A dirty bomb is an explosive that can be laced with nuclear or biological material to make it more deadly.
The suspect smiled and shook officers hands as they took him into custody.
Police said David O'Dell Ferguson claimed he had sulphur and bomb making materials in his pick-up truck and even asked a security guard for directions to the FBI building.
The security guard detained the suspect and called in police and firefighters.
Police said that 6 ounces of mercury were found in the man's truck along with two dogs.
Because of the seriousness of the threat, the DA is expected to charge the Freeport man with making a terroristic threat. http://www.khou.com/news/local/stories/khou040225_jt_dirtybombscare.280243a5.html
Again Mercury!