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Explosive detonated after being discovered in federal courthouse in W.Virginia UPDATE: ‘Twere all fakes, and now the miscreant is arrested
[NYPOST] An bomb exploded in a federal courthouse early Monday after a bomb scare forced an evacuation of a large chunk of a sleepy West Virginia city.Police confirmed to news station WVAA that at least one bomb was found in the historic Elizabeth Kee Federal Building in Bluefield, a city with a population of just under 10,000 people.

At around 11:40 a.m. — two hours after the area was evacuated — police yelled "Fire in the hole" ahead of a loud blast as at least one device exploded from inside the courthouse, the Bluefield Daily Telegraph said.

The local paper saw a bomb-squad robot in the street, which was otherwise deserted save a heavy police presence.

Bluefield Police Chief Dennis Dillow confirmed to the paper that at least three suspicious devices had been found at the federal courthouse, without elaborating.

An area around neighboring Westminster Presbyterian Church was also being evacuated after possible explosives were found there, police later told WVNS.
Subsequently, from Fox5DC:
A West Virginia man is behind bars after two hoax bombs were found outside a federal building and a church in Bluefield.

Officials say 50-year-old James Dean Fowler was standing outside the Elizabeth Kee Federal Building Monday morning with a box cutter demanding to speak with a federal agent.

When police arrived around 8:50 a.m., Fowler told them he had a bag with a bomb in it.
And a hand with a box cutter in it. *sigh* Whatever he hoped to accomplish, this is clearly not the way to do it.
Both of the fake explosives were later found, including one planted at the Westminister Church on Washington Street. According to the investigation, the Bluefield native was not targeting the church, but could not carry both devices to the Federal Building.

Fowler is charged with one count of possession or use of a hoax bomb in the commission of a felony, two counts of false reports concerning bombs or bombs, and two counts of threats of terroristic acts.

Officials say he will be arraigned Monday night and transported to the Southern Regional Jail.


Posted by: Fred 2022-08-23
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=641986