2008 Woodie Awards
International Brief: Embassy bombing thwarted
Joseph Gentile
Issue date: 10/26/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
According to Venezuelan security officials, a youth enrolled at the state-sponsored Bolivarian University had been arrested Monday after attempting to detonate pipe bombs outside of the U.S. Embassy in Caracas. One bomb had been found on the road outside of the university, and the other embedded in a planter not more than 50 yards from the entrance to the embassy. Both bombs had been carefully concealed in plastic garbage bags and contained "small fliers…alluding to Hezbollah (a Lebanese guerilla group)," said Police Chief Wilfredo Borraz from the Baruta neighborhood.
In his report, Borraz concluded that the youth had attempted "to create alarm and publicize a message." Inside of his knapsack, officers found multiple containers of gunpowder, pliers, and electrical wiring. He also reportedly told authorities that he had timed the bombs to detonate in "15 minutes" and that he used "the Internet, looking for pages about explosives," in preparation.
Embassy spokesperson Brian Penn recounted the ordeal, commending a motorcyclist that alerted security guards after the youth hinted to him of the impending danger. Residents of the upper-class Valle Arriba neighborhood, home to the U.S. Embassy, then alerted authorities and offered descriptions that led to the suspect's immediate arrest. Police later detonated the homemade explosives - larger than your average fireworks - closing the street off to traffic and evacuating schoolchildren from Bolivarian University.
No injuries had been reported by Venezuelan officials and the intent behind the youth's conduct still isn't clear. So far, two suspects have been detained for questioning.
In his report, Borraz concluded that the youth had attempted "to create alarm and publicize a message." Inside of his knapsack, officers found multiple containers of gunpowder, pliers, and electrical wiring. He also reportedly told authorities that he had timed the bombs to detonate in "15 minutes" and that he used "the Internet, looking for pages about explosives," in preparation.
Embassy spokesperson Brian Penn recounted the ordeal, commending a motorcyclist that alerted security guards after the youth hinted to him of the impending danger. Residents of the upper-class Valle Arriba neighborhood, home to the U.S. Embassy, then alerted authorities and offered descriptions that led to the suspect's immediate arrest. Police later detonated the homemade explosives - larger than your average fireworks - closing the street off to traffic and evacuating schoolchildren from Bolivarian University.
No injuries had been reported by Venezuelan officials and the intent behind the youth's conduct still isn't clear. So far, two suspects have been detained for questioning.
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