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.

[Smokin' Joe]

Motion activated: switch off, you could probably juggle it. Switch on, don't sneeze. (Did this guy have allergies?)

Even the angle the device was held at could be deadly with some types of triggers if the switch were inadvertently turned on. He would not have had to be removing it, only jostled the contents of the pack wrong and turned the switch on on one of the devices.

[claudiustg]

That's a light post at the end isn't it?

[Cold Heat]

Motion activated: switch off, you could probably juggle it. Switch on, don't sneeze. (Did this guy have allergies?)

I had a different theory.

I figure his design called for him to jack in a plunger switch. If he wired it improperly with a hot battery already connected that did not have a separate disconnect that he could switch on AFTER he jacked in the plunger, then as soon as he inserted the plunger jack the circuit would make momentarily until the jack was fully seated.

I have actually made this mistake myself when constructing a remote wired launch trigger for model rocketry. And hell, I'm a electrician by trade.

The rocket almost toasted me....LOL This is why you energize the power last in a two step sequence.

He may have made the same stupid mistake in the effort to make a simplistic detonator.. Just a theory based largely on a crapload of assumptions, but quite possible.

[Ain Soph Aur]

Seems I read awhile back that Tolin's parents and friends confirmed she was manic-depressive, and the police had finally ruled her death a suicide, saying the bruises were self-inflicted.

With this case Saturday, I don't know if I should feel guilty at all or not. A week and a half ago (Thursday before last), my opinion column in the OU Daily contained the quote "Life is harsh. Deal with it or end it." I'm kind of wondering whether or not that might have influenced this kid's final decision.

Then again, I'm seriously considering tearing his ignorance apart this week.

[Ain Soph Aur]

That bench has already been replaced, and I was in the area today at about 1:30 looking at the scene. There was still water standing from where they'd hosed down the bus and the concrete. No damage to the ground or tree nearby (tree should be right behind and to the left of the photographer).

[Rte66]

I posted the wrong one - this shows a little more of the area. I think it is a lightpost. These pix are from the KOCO website, but were shot by that Drake Melson person who we have "heard about and from" several times in posts here--saw the robot video and gruesome footage and also posted an email if anyone wanted to see his photos or hear more details. I didn't.

Sorry, I had to go to the Sandbox and learn how to post an image and I'm way behind. I thought this thread had died, so I was reading the other two on this topic -- then here you all were!

CrimeScene Bench

[Smokin' Joe]

A lot depends on the target.

If the busses were the target, a motion activated switch or a timer, If the crowd (but not himself), a timer or remotely detonated device would be effective. For a suicide bombing, a mechanically closed switch (command detonated or 'deadman') would probably be the ideal.

Remotely activated detonators would have applications, too, but could be set off on some dupe to eliminate the basic witness.

A lot would depend on whether the bomber was working alone, whether he was the top guy or a "soldier" and the target.

I imagine any unexploded ordnance recovered will help answer those questions and help discern his intent, place in the pecking order, likelihood of working alone, etc.

It is no doubt being thoroughly studied while we speculate.

[Rte66]

Yeah, I was trying to figure out the timeline on the removal of the bench (seems it was Sunday morning, by the FBI), so when this photo had to have been taken. It was replaced around noon today, is that correct? The photo must have been yesterday, er, Sunday evening, then.

That's confusing because all of the other photos by Melson and Riley are from Saturday night, with the bomb robot in them and all that.

[Smokin' Joe]

I just re-read your post. A deadman switch wired in without holding the plunger down would be a definite oops.

You would think the guy would have a manual arm/disarm switch, but you never know.

The scenario you described is a possibility, too.

It only takes a second of stupidity (not that the whole scenario isn't stupid) to end a lifetime.

You were lucky you weren't burned badly, imo...

[Cindy]

Re: Oklahoma - Interesting Links ON THE NET...

http://www.normantranscript.com

http://www.oudaily.com
http://www.oudaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/10/01/433f3c43d0f24#feedback
http://www.oudaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/10/03/43420103cdca9
http://media.oudaily.com/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/s-43420103cdca9-43-1.jpg
http://www.oudaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/10/03/4341fe8b294e8
http://media.oudaily.com/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/s-4341fe8b294e8-14-1.jpg

http://www.channeloklahoma.com/index.html

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=oubombing
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1495911/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1495698/posts
http://www.normantranscript.com/localnews/local_story_230004903
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1495602/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1495507/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1495058/posts?page=3610#3610
http://www.gazette.com/display.php?id=1310934&secid=1

http://newsbusters.org/node/1895
http://newsbusters.org/blog/497

http://floppingaces.blogspot.com/2005/10/oklahoma-bombing.html
http://michellemalkin.com/archives/003652.htm
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=17737_Suicide_Bombing_in_Oklahoma#comments
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=17737#c0185
http://www.ottergoose.net/


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1495058/posts?page=3750#3750

http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthread.php?t=170283&page=6&pp=40
http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showpost.php?s=fe439bab8abf8f1f6b216f81e9b22ddb&p=1568607&postcount=222



http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/1005/265495.html

[Ain Soph Aur]

The final touches on the bench were done by about 10:15 or so. I got off my apartment shuttle just in time to see the work crews finish up.

[LibertyRocks]

This is probably my last post of the night on this - gotta get some good sleep. (o: Anyway, here is the latest I have found coming out of OU from Boren. It discusses a need to keep information quiet in order for the FBI to more thoroughly investigate... This might explain why the sudden switch in the reporting tonight from the local news, IMHO. My guess is that they were told to cease their reporting as the local news was doing a really good job of getting information on this event from various sources. I wonder if this is a temporary shut-down, or a "final" shutdown and then we'll get the "official" version possibly months from now?

Anyway, here is the letter... (I also posted this on one of the other short threads.)

http://www.oudaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/10/03/4341ee0c29148
Open letter from the OU president
by OU President David L. Boren

October 03, 2005

Congratulations are due to The Oklahoma Daily for the very thoughtful discussion on the editorial page about the need to inform the public during a critical situation and still respect the need for law enforcement agencies to maintain silence about some matters to help them find the truth. It is hard to wisely strike the balance between these two needs.

Three specific decisions were made during the recent incident illustrating the difficulty of making the right decision. First, I decided to wait to make a public announcement inside the stadium until six minutes before the end of the game. I did so in order to give our bomb dogs and experts more time to sweep the parking garage and stadium exits before spectators began leaving. There was nothing magic about the six minute number; it was just a rough estimate in trying to obtain the right balance.

Second, we all heard another explosion on Sunday night with no warning. The university police and I were notified about five minutes after we heard it. The FBI, which was removing materials from the room of the deceased, decided that for safety reasons they had to immediately detonate the materials at the Norman Police Range and shouldn’t wait until we were told. They made a tough decision. We immediately asked them to notify 10 p.m. news broadcasts that there were no bombs and that they had deliberately destroyed in a controlled environment those materials which they had found.

Third, on Sunday, when it became clear that law enforcement officials would not hold a press conference, I decided that I should do so in order to reassure our community and provide as much information as possible to address unanswered concerns and false rumors. I know that some in law enforcement did not want me to do so. At that point, however, I felt it was my responsibility to provide information to our university community, and that I could wait no longer. The law enforcement officials, including the FBI, have worked with us very well, and I did my best to avoid releasing specific data which they felt would damage their investigation.

Any of these decisions could be questioned. The Daily is right to raise this important issue.

Finally, I want to thank our OU police department and OU staff members (including those from Athletics, Housing and Food Services, Physical Plant, Landscaping, student RA’s and community officers) and those who helped them for long hours of hard work. Special thanks also go to our students — especially those we had to move from their rooms at 6 a.m. — for reacting very sensibly and responsibly. If students or parents have any suggestions for the future, please feel free to call the President’s Action Line at 325-1212.

Sincerely,

David L. Boren

President

[Dr. Eckleburg]

If your tin foil hat is too tight, mine is squeezing my brain completely.

Thanks, PhiKapMom, for all your great energy and intelligent effort covering this distressing event. You've done more good work than a dozen newspapers/TV news.

[AmericaUnite]

I believe the "punks" who killed the Coptic family in NJ were connected with Muslim landlords. Those involved left the country.

[Rte66]

Thanks for the timeline info. As far as the pix I posted, it occurred to me that maybe the removal of the bench was done in the *wee hours* of Sunday morning and these photogs were still there from Saturday night.

Several newsies have mentioned being at the scene overnight for many hours. I didn't figure the guys who took the Sat. night photos would have waited until nighttime again (Sunday night after dark) to take these bench photos, when they could have taken them anytime during the daylight Sunday.

I don't see any wooden kitchen matches, anyway!

[Rte66]

Not to stick up for my friend Mr. Boren, lol, but a local claimed that a LEO said all that was left of Mr. Hinrichs was legs and wallet.

So, they had a *tentative* identity just from that and his father said JoelIII had been in treatment for depression at Goddard Health Center, so those records were also available to the Univ president.

I *know* these things because from age 3 onward, I was told by my own father me that every single bad thing I ever did or ever would do or ever thought about doing would "go on my permanent record."

[laz]

Regarding the bench replacement, some people have remarked the bomb must have been small because it left no scorch mark on the concrete. That is untrue, as there is a photo on the site that is verboten on FR that shows a large scorch mark. Obviously, the concrete has been cleaned in addition to the bench having been replaced.

[small_l_libertarian]

Perhaps we're overthinking the matches thing. I haven't read anything about the condition or age of the matches (were they all new, freshly burned matches, or were they of differing ages?). It might just be that a pipe smoker frequents this bench. Or any smoker(s) who doesn't carry a lighter for whatever reason.

The matches might not be evidence at all, which may be why they weren't taken by the police.

[penelopesire]

the matches don't matter much now...news was on some local channel(according to PhiKap and one other poster) that the kids roomate was Pakistani and he can not be found! That's all I need to know folks. Don't mean to sound like I am profiling..but I am. This story is not over.

[defenderSD]

That's really interesting, to say the least, if the kid's roomate was Pakistani. I distinctly remember reading a thread about two months ago saying that western intelligence and law enforcement agencies were expecting the next terrorist attack in the US to be planned and/or executed by Pakistanis. Ah yes, I saved a copy of the HTML for this thread. Just did a search and this is the thread, posted 7/17/05: It's Pakistan Stupid.

The pieces of this puzzle are starting to fall in place.