'Bomb' Package at Federal Building Is Pornography
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| With the nation on high alert against a terrorist attack, the discovery of a mysterious package at Scranton's federal courthouse brought out the city's bomb squad and closed several downtown blocks Saturday night. The package turned out to be harmless. The briefcase-sized box, wrapped in what appeared to be a green garbage bag and left at the entrance of the William J. Nealon Federal Building in the 200 block of North Washington Avenue, was full of pornographic magazines and videos. A note on the package was addressed to U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft. City police Sgt. Dave Benway found little humor in the act. In fact, he said, a post-Sept. 11 law makes such hoaxes -- "facsimiles of weapons of mass destruction" -- a third-degree felony. "This has just begun," Sgt. Benway said. "There will be a full investigation and I expect charges will be filed." Police declined to discuss specifically what the note said, but Sgt. Benway said the note's contents suggested the package was dangerous. A federal marshal making his rounds outside of the building saw the package just before 5 p.m. near the main door and called the Scranton Police Department. Police initially closed off only the block of North Washington in front of the building. Members of the bomb crew were hesitant to discuss what they were doing. Sgt. Benway said those who respond to terrorist acts do not want to make their methods or procedures widely known. Bomb crews examined the package from the inside the building, pointing an X-ray machine through the glass. The X-ray showed metal screws. The screws would later be identified as parts of the videocassettes, but at the time, squad members thought they might have been part of an explosive device. "We determined we would continue to treat this with the utmost caution," said bomb squad member Robert Martin. After a decision was made to blow up the package, police broadened the street closure. North Washington was closed from Spruce to Mulberry streets, and Linden Street was closed from Forest Court to Adams Avenue. "This is not like the movies," said Sgt. Benway. "We don't mess around with blue wires and white wires while a counter is counting down." A bomb squad member fastened a rope around the box and dragged it down the steps and into the middle of North Washington. A water cannon, which uses a charge and water to tear apart and detonate a potential bomb, was placed under the package. Law enforcement officials crouched behind vehicles and around building corners. A bomb squad member shouted, "Fire in the hole!" and the package popped in the air, its glossy contents scattering. Despite the national terrorism alert, bomb squad members said they handled the situation the same way they would have three years ago.
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| ©Scranton Times Tribune 2003 |