Bomb Blast at University of Oklahoma (Breaking on Fox) - suicide bomber at OU

Fox News/NewsOK.com ^ | oct. 1, 2005

[blogblogginaway]

From Staff Reports
NORMAN -- An explosion near the University of Oklahoma's Gaylord Family-Memorial Stadium killed one person Saturday, OU officials said.

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.

[Cementjungle]

When the first plane hit, I thought it was a horrible accident -- never gave terrorism a thought.

The first thing I heard that morning was from the cruise ship captain on the PA system: "America has been attacked, New York and Washington DC are in flames".

I still didn't expect terrorism. Instead, I thought of some rogue former USSR dude lobbing missles at us or something.

[conservativepoet]

Everyone have a good night. Need to rest my eyes for more tomorrow.

[PhiKapMom]

Must admit when the second plane hit, it still didn't click with me that it was a terrorist attack just knew something was wrong. Never gave a thought it was Middle Eastern types.

Interesting your first thought was the Russians -- hate to admit it but I thought they were behind it as well.

[PhiKapMom]

I am headed to bed as well -- hopefully tomorrow is very quiet here.

[LibertyRocks]

Thanks Cindy. I'm still looking for it. (o:

[Cindy]

Oh, I'm sorry, LR...I saw it today after church, on one of about 5 threads.
Let me look around quick.
If I can find it, I'll ping you.

[LibertyRocks]

No apologies necessary Cindy. I've read so many articles in the last 24 hours it's hard to remember where I saw it as well. I was going to go back through this thread in the morning as I'm not finding anything through Google or Yahoo. My guess is that it's one of the articles that has been "updated"... Thanks for your help though. (o:

[Cindy]

I went looking and found something else.

The article I recall that you were looking for was an Ottawa publication and something like KFCR or something like that...anyway, if I do run across it, I'll let you know.

What was unique about the article was that it was on their web site today and it was the only one I ran across that actually stated (if I recall correctly) 5 people were injured.

[Rte66]

Ye gods and little fishes. That's the guy whose email addy I posted earlier today. I had debated about writing him, because he said he had photos -- but also said he had seen some shocking things. Now we know what it was.

And after reading what he saw, I cannot fathom what the first student meant when he said he was the closest person to Hinrichs after the blast and "could see that he was dead."

I mean, if half his body isn't there at all, isn't "possibly dead" the ultimate in understatement?

There was a scene like that in the movie Catch-22 years ago that still gives me the creeps to think about it--and I didn't even actually see it, I covered my eyes.

Dear me, this poor guy's family.

Oh, I finally found a definitive statement about Hinrichs' depression and treatment in that latest OU Daily story:

~~~~~~~~
"... “He was a very private individual,” said his father, Joel Hinrichs Jr. “I knew he had gone through several severe bouts of depression, but I never saw this coming.”

He said his son had been going to counseling at Goddard Health Center but was having trouble finding optimism in his life. ..."
~~~~~~~~~

[Dr. Eckleburg]

We don't know (or do we) that the bomb-making materials being detonated were coming from the kid's apartment or some other apartment in the building, which apparently housed muslim students, too.

I've missed the link where the Triangle president spoke about his frat brother. So you know where it is?

[Cindy]

OPINION: IF (and that's a big IF as I wasn't there) the body was cut in half; "possibly dead" would seem to me to be understating the situation.

[BamaGirl]

I don't like this assumption that just because the poor kid was depressed, he decided to blow himself up. It's too bizarre. More importantly, it is an overly convenient explanation that, once accepted, can be re-used in the future. ("Move along sheeple; nothing to see here, he was just depressed...")

Another possibility: (Put on your tin foil hats?)

Mr. Hinrich was framed/coerced.

1. Someone puts a device in his backpack (unknownst to him), or leaves it next to him on the bench & runs away. Or perhaps they strap it to him under threat of force.

2. The posts here assert that Mr. Hinrichs was familiar with guns and was a loner type. Both of these qualities make him a perfect patsy. If I were an evil terrorist mastermind*, I certainly wouldn't pick Miss "I'm scared of guns" Homecoming to do my dirty work.

3. Plus if he were familiar with guns and truly suicidal, wouldn't he use that instead?

4. Mr. Hinrichs' father in his quote (See #3219) sounds much more bewildered than anything else.

5. If may even be possible that Mr. Hinrich, being familiar with weapons, somehow managed to detonate the bomb early to minimize loss of life. For all we know he may be a hero.

6. President Boren says "He has had what I would call emotional difficulties in the past." Now come on FReepers, imagine if Mr. Hinrichs was an outspoken conservative and Boren a typical lefty campus administrator. How likely would he be deemed to "have emotional problems"???

*: Don't worry I am not an evil terrorist mastermind.

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=17737_Suicide_Bombing_in_Oklahoma#comments

http://michellemalkin.com/archives/003652.htm

http://floppingaces.blogspot.com/2005/10/oklahoma-bombing.html

http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2005/10/bomb-blast-at-university-of-oklahoma.html

http://www.soonerfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49957

[Rte66]

The explosive materials that were detonated last night (Sun night) were taken out of Hinrichs' apartment in a black duffel-type bag a little while earlier.

There are some twilight photos taken of the bomb squad removing it on this blog:

http://www.ottergoose.net/

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Thanks.

[Dane]

Below are some more quotes from hinnrich's father and brother, from his home town newspaper in Colorado.

“In hindsight, the handwriting was on the wall,” Joel Hinrichs Jr. said of his youngest son. “He was unhappy in his major (mechanical engineering). He had the energy of a young man, but he didn’t have the optimism. “He lived his life very privately. He was very bright. He was fascinated with technical information and subjects, but evidently did not pick up much confidence on his passage through childhood. He ran out of confidence last night.” Tom Hinrichs, 24, said his brother was lonely and frustrated. “I was surprised a bit by the details, but on the whole I was not surprised,” he said. “He’d always been fascinated with artillery. “He had real demons that were eating at him, and I told him some things I thought he needed to do, but he had such intense pride it didn’t register to him.” Joel III, who went by “Joe,” was the youngest of three boys and two girls. His father’s job as a software engineer brought the family to Colorado Springs from Illinois, about six years ago. His parents recently separated, and his mother, Elaine, also lives here.

[Dane]

Picture of hinrich's from the Denver Post.

And the article from the Denver Post, with quotes from his sister.

Hinrichs' older sister, Berkeley Hinrichs, said from her home in Illinois that she last spoke to her brother eight months ago. She said he told her he was having trouble with the direction of his future. "The last time I talked to him, he was not sure what he wanted to do with his life," she said

[Uncle Ike]

"Maybe it's the engineer in me, but I'm a firm believer in Occam's Razor -"

Occam's Razor is only appropriate if it accounts for ALL of the factors.

When you factor in:

a) explosives are the "weapon of choice" of (Islamic) terrorists worldwide for small-scale attacks

b) this country remains under threat of attack from (Islamic) terrorists. (The default "code-yellow" terrorism alert level is two steps ABOVE "nothing to see here", regardless of how comfortable and complacent we've gotten)

Then the logical default assumption in any incident involving explosives - especially in a (potentially) crowded public place - should be Terrorism, until such time as facts demonstrate otherwise.

IMO

[Smokin' Joe]

Ebay Restricted and forbidden items list

Firearm Parts and Accessories: eBay prohibits members from listing firearms, including antique, collectible, and sport & hunting firearms as well as ammunition. eBay does not permit the sale of any assault weapon-related parts or accessories. This prohibition applies to all parts and accessories related to any firearm defined as an "assault weapon" by federal or California law.

[Skylab]

Myth busted. Call off the lynch mob.