[Rte66]

OIC, I didn't quite understand that they could tell a difference in their own explosion of the backpack and a bomb left by the perp.

~~~~~

Having said what I did about the Ruf-Neks' cannon-boomers and possible timing, confusion, it would then follow that the perp wasn't nescessarily wanting to take just himself out, but was perhaps expecting to live through the explosion and escape, and wanting to get away undetected. That wouldn't constitute a suicide.

If you'd heard the Ruf-Nek "guns," you'd know what I mean. They get me in the pit of the stomach or sometimes the solar plexus. They are LOUD and explosive.

[Old Student]

"If you'd heard the Ruf-Nek "guns," you'd know what I mean. They get me in the pit of the stomach or sometimes the solar plexus. They are LOUD and explosive."

I've heard them from outside the stadium (I'm not a fan of football, OU's or anyones, which makes me a heretic here in Oklahoma) and they are fairly loud. The ROTC folks also fire a cannon as part of the ceremonies they participate in, and I've heard that, as well. Louder, IIRC, than the Ruf-Neks, possibly, but the stadium design could have kept me from hearing them clearly, too. (acting as a funnel and directing the sound up, instead of allowing it to spread.)

It's possible that the bomber was simply trying to take himself out, and do additional damage, but his device malfunctioned (low-order explosion instead of high-order) or that he was trying to damage and/or deface other equipment or facilities, or that he was trying to get into the stadium, and failed. My thoughts in this post are mostly speculation, which is really a waste of time, but I normally attend classes across the oval from Cross Hall, and often park in the stadium parking building. My wife is liable to freak out when she hears of this.