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CNN Live Today

FBI: Anti-government Notes Accompany Midwest Mailbox Bombs

Aired May 06, 2002 - 12:09   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Want to focus on a very serious situation here in this country right now. New information from an FBI official quoted today as saying that there were actually anti- government notes accompanying all 15 mailbox bombs that were found in Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska. And the official says that the FBI is certain now that the bombs were planted by the same group or individual. The latest bomb was diffused overnight.

Our Rusty Dornin is at the FBI regional office in Omaha with the latest from there -- Rusty, hello.

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, you know, the letters really could provide some of the most powerful clues in a case like this, because they can look at the style of writing and that sort of thing to get an idea of what the person or persons' beliefs are. There are some experts that are saying that they don't believe that it might be a hate group because the wording might be more sophisticated.

These letters are fairly crude in their word usage. They talk about attention getting. There's a lot of anti-government slogans in there.

Now right now the agents are putting out the letters on the Internet and in the papers in hope it will sound familiar to someone.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Asking the public, anyone that has information. Maybe someone that has read this letter. I know the letter has been posted on various media Web sites, and it will be posted on the FBI's Web sites. And we're hoping that someone will look at that and recognize it and call us.

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DORNIN: Now this is the way, of course, that they did end up catching Ted Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber. They printed his manifesto, and it was his brother that recognized the writing. Of course they're hoping something like that will come out of this.

Meantime, residents in Iowa and Nebraska in rural areas are taping open their mailboxes. That's the only way that the postal carriers will deliver mail. And that's, of course, because if you leave the box open, the postal carrier can see what's inside. They're not going to reach inside and grab something.

Many of these bombs did explode simply from the mail carriers opening the box. They're motion sensitive. And that's how actually four of the six people were injured, simply opening the mailbox.

So apparently in Illinois those restrictions have been lifted. But here in rural areas -- like I said, in Iowa and Nebraska -- you better keep your mailbox taped open -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Yeah, and I think, Rusty, you were telling us earlier there's also concern of folks perhaps who were gone over the weekend or didn't check their mail. So there might still be some mailboxes that were untouched. Folks not being aware, and then going and checking on their mail today.

DORNIN: Exactly. So they've been showing different ways that they can -- they can actually -- people can actually call the authorities and someone will come out and open the mailbox and use various techniques. You know, sort of a fishing pole rod idea and coming around from the back. They use fishing line and go around to the back and pop it open.

But they're telling people, you know, if you haven't opened your mailbox over the weekend, you really should take a lot of precaution before you do it.

KAGAN: Such a basic daily thing, but now you actually have to think about as well. One more question, Rusty, about the specific targets. When they look at where these pipe bombs were left and look at the letters, does it appear to be random or is there a thought as to where the pipe bombs were placed?

DORNIN: Well, you know, at this point, they're saying it's random. I mean you look at somebody like the Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski, and he addressed very carefully his parcels to people and actually mailed them. These are not put through the mail, they're simply put in the mailbox.

It doesn't seem for any rhyme or reason. Apparently the people who have been hit so far, the mailboxes, there wasn't anything to tie them together. There was no common thread.

And they're even saying even though the postal carriers are the ones, of course, that were hit, you know, by the Anthrax threats and all that, they don't think that the postal carriers are the ones that are being targeted either, mainly because of the focus of these letters. It's just someone who really is very anti-government and wants to get people's attention.

The interesting thing is the FBI, over the weekend, made it public and said, "You have gotten our attention. You do not need to send anymore of those devices." So it will be interesting to see if any more devices are discovered today.

KAGAN: All right. Rusty Dornin, Omaha, Nebraska, with the latest on the mailboxes and the pipe bombs. Appreciate that report. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com