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.

[Rte66]

Yeah, Reid was the one I thought of when I first saw the article mentioning the 50 matches. He couldn't get his shoes to light. Awwwwwww.

I don't know about the bearded photo; I honestly thought we'd be hearing more info today that would answer a lot of our questions (maybe not the biggest ones). I'm a little disappointed that it seems to have been buried so quickly!

[Smokin' Joe]

Hmmmm OK. You have info I do not. What kind of matches? Paper or wooden? Wooden matches may have been scattered and ignited by the explosion. Individual paper matches have to be removed to separate them and are more difinitive that someone spent time igniting them.

Although there are not as many smokers around as there used to be, a smoker would probably carry a lighter, (most non-smokers do not) not matches.

Most engineers I have known are gadget freaks, too. Especially the Mech Engineering types, more likely to find the neatest igniter gizmo they could, as long as it is reliable. Although I guess that might include matches, too.

Does anyone have a picture of the bench after the explosion? Scorch marks on concrete, fracture patterns, embedded objects (even miroscopic ones) etc. might shed more light on this (which is one of the reasons to remove it, as well as for chemical testing).

[LibertyRocks]

Reports out of OKC are stating that the bench has already been replaced by University workers.

[Nam Vet]

I'm a little disappointed that it seems to have been buried so quickly!

I've been monitoring the news (FOXNEWS, radio etc) all day as I worked at home today and I didn't hear ONE word about this incident. This IS a very odd suicide to occur in America and especially during this present time and these circumstances. Something is wrong that there is absolutely NO reportage on a monday after the weekend event.

Nam Vet

[hispanarepublicana]

Reports out of OKC are stating that the bench has already been replaced by University workers.

Hmmm...just like Westworld or Disneyland.

[LibertyRocks]

There are only 350 or so hits on Google news for stories published on the web at this point vs. 6,000+ regarding the Bali explosions and over 1560 for the NY boat accident. It's definitely not being covered like it should.

[Eastbound]

Here's a link showing feedback by locals on the story:

OUDaily

[The_Media_never_lie]

What do you think about the possibility the story is being stanched in order that the investigation can proceed without tipping the authoritie's hand?

[LibertyRocks]

Thanks, I've read through that site earlier but I found some interesting posts from today - one refers to another detonation this morning....

---

Posted 10/03/2005
I can't believe this. This has been handled attrociously. The game was continued when a bomb exploded not 100 yards away? Absolutely ridiculous. Another device was detonated this morning, but it's impossible to find out what is actually going on. I'm a student who lives off campus, and I am so concerned for the inevitably panicking parents who have children living on campus. I've a feeling we're never going to get the whole story because nobody will be able to own up to how poorly this whole thing has been handled so far.
Dan

---

And one mentioning the 9/11 terrorists, I didn't recall that one was a student at OU...

Posted 10/03/2005
Why did they evacuate the apartments yesterday morning if there is no threat to the students? Some of you out there are most definitely taking a fools' approach to this whole thing. Football is a neat sport, but that's all that it is. Remember that one of the 9-11 terrorists was a student at OU. Please don't risk the lives of students for money. I know it's the American way, but for god's sake, use some common sense for once.
Vaio_Dude
Student
KS

[The_Media_never_lie]

With that beard he looks Amish.

Don't think he was Amish. Amish men are great dancers (re: Hey Pretty Lady, by John Michael Montgomery) and don't blow people up.

[Palladin]

I can't believe I didn't hear a single word about this incident all day on FOX.

John Gibson spent a whole hour talking about the Lake George boat accident.

With all those drama queens at FOX, it's a puzzlement why they haven't jumped on this very dramatic story.

Somethin's up and it ain't good.

[Eastbound]

Not sure if this link has been mentioned on the thread, but here it is again. Pix and reporting by a blogger:

OTTERGOOSE BLOG

[Eastbound]

Ping. Did you catch the bloggers comments? Here's his link.

[Ros42]

I read the article in the Denver Post online today about this story, and noticed it never mentioned any explosive material being found in the apartment, so I emailed the writer, and asked her if she had any information regarding it...she said "No, the FBI didn't tell us that". That was it!! I emailed her links to the story, and she never emailed me back, so I guess we will see if the story changes tomorrow.

[El Gato]

What type of organization is Triangle? An academic fraternity or social fraternity?

Some of each. You have to have a technical major, math, science, engineering, but otherwise it operates much like any other fraternity. Perhaps with a bit less of the hazing and hard drinking that characterized more "Greek" Houses. A friend of mine was a member, but a non residential one, since his folks lived in the same town as the University, as did mine. He is a friend that goes back to Junior High. We're both Grandpas now. )

[not_apathetic_anymore]

Guess it's too much to think that the reporters would do some of their own research and ask some tough questions of the FBI...Just accept what they say at face value.

[El Gato]

The other bomb making material (a claim yet to be substanciated) obviously means he may have had intentions on making more explosive devices..

Well the Norman PD blew up something Sunday night, after evacuating and searching the apartment complex he lived in. That was reported on several OK City TV stations shortly after the controlled detonations at the police range occurred. Scared the Shiite out of folks and probably lit up the switchboard. (They couldn't have put a crawl on folks TVs and a brief announcement on most radio stations *before* detonating the stuff?)

[Eastbound]

I just emailed Nick Benson, the blogger, and encouraged him to continue his involvement in the follow-up reporting and linked him over here to this thread.

[LucyT]

This is incredible, here is an email received, just now from friends, they live in Riverside, California and THEY haven't heard a word about the incident:

"Hello Lucy, Thanks for these two emails..."Update",
and "Comments", but I/WE never heard, or read of this
event. When did this happen, and/or do you have a link
to an original news story about it.

"WE haven't seen on TV, or read anything about it. Would have thought we might have heard something on Hugh Hewitt, or Limbaugh about this, but nothing. ????????? Would appreciate a link to an original article, date etc. Thanks,"