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Bomb found outside Wal-Mart entrance |
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Tuesday, 22 July 2008 |
 A bomb was found Sunday morning outside the front door of the Boone Wal-Mart by an employee at 5:40 a.m. File Photo
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by CORY WATSON
News Reporter
A bomb was discovered Sunday morning in front of Wal-Mart by an employee and was later detonated by police.
The bomb was found at the main entrance of the store around 5:40 a.m. and appeared to be homemade.
“The Boone police department and fire department responded and confirmed the device was indeed suspicious and was potentially dangerous,” said Capt. William Greene of the Boone Police Department.
Employees working within the store at the time were immediately evacuated.
The Wilkes County special-operations unit, the closest department
capable of disarming the bomb, responded to the situation along with
the Boone Police Department to help search the area for any other
device that might have been left behind.
The bomb had apparently been ignited by a slow fuse but then misfired.
“At this point in time it’s not really certain how much damage it would
have done,” Greene said. “It certainly did have the potential for
bodily injury had anyone been in the immediate area of the device if it
had detonated.”
Earlier descriptions of the bomb as having a copper center piece and
two butane tanks with flash powder were unconfirmed by Greene.
The Wilkes unit disassembled the bomb into pieces before safely igniting each one.
Wal-Mart and the surrounding parking areas were blocked off until 9:30
a.m. before nearby shoppers and employees were allowed in.
There were no injuries reported.
The investigation of the incident is continuing with the assistance of the State Bureau of Investigation.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has also offered the Boone Police
Department its assistance if needed but is not participating in the
investigation at this time.
Greene said he would not comment on any potential suspects but said the
department is currently reviewing surveillance tapes for any evidence
that might assist in the investigation.
“We take this situation very seriously and want to find out who is responsible,” Greene said.
Anyone with information is urged to call the Boone Police Department at 262-6900 or Watauga County Crime Stoppers.
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