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CNN Live At Daybreak

More on Arrest of Young Pipe Bomb Suspect

Aired May 09, 2002 - 06:31   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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get more now on the arrest of that young pipe bomb suspect. The former college roommate says Luke Helder was, and I'm quoting here, "a really nice kid."

CNN's Eric Horn -- Eric Horng, rather, has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERIC HORNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Officials at the Washoe County jail placed Luke Helder on 24-hour surveillance, fearing he might try to hurt himself. Earlier, authorities searched the home of Helder's parents in rural Minnesota. Though a motive remains unclear, a portrait has begun to emerge of the man the FBI says planted pipe bombs and anti-government letters in mailboxes across the heartland.

Helder, an art student at the University of Wisconsin-Stout loved music, played in a rock group and idolized the band, Nirvana. Fellow students described Helder as quiet and nice, hardly the type to lash out at the government.

MATT DECORSEY, SUSPECT'S FORMER ROOMMATE: This is the farthest I could see him doing, something like this. He was, you know, like I said, a really nice kid, and I just don't see him being violent like this.

HORNG: Helder was arrested Tuesday in Nevada after leading authorities on a 40-mile, high-speed chase. Over the weekend, Helder was stopped three times for traffic violations in Nebraska, Colorado and Oklahoma, but never arrested.

It wasn't until Tuesday that the FBI announced Helder was their suspect, when the student newspaper at the University of Wisconsin- Madison handed over a seven-page letter it received bearing what appears to be Helder's signature. In it, Helder chastises the government and warns of the dangers of greed and conformity.

Though he doesn't talk specifically about planting pipe bombs, Helder writes -- quote: "I am taking very drastic measures in an attempt to provide this information to you. You people have failed long enough."

(on camera): Charges have been filed against Helder in three states: Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska. He is expected to remain here in Reno for one to five days before being transported back east to be formally arraigned.

Eric Horng, CNN, Reno, Nevada.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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