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CNN Live At Daybreak

Investigators Look into Source of Philadelphia Bomb Scare

Aired May 15, 2002 - 05:15   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: Investigators are trying to figure out who placed a suspicious package in a northeast Philly mailbox. The package turned out not to be a bomb, but it did have the same message found with a mailbox bomb on Monday.

CNN's Kelli Arena has details for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Nerves were on edge as another bomb scare rocked northeast Philadelphia.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm afraid to put the mail in the mailbox now. I just have to go to the post office now, you know?

ARENA: This time it was a false alarm. Instead of a bomb, authorities found a pair of sneakers. The sneakers raised suspicions because they accompanied by a note which read "free Palestine." That's the same message that accompanied a real bomb found in another Philadelphia mailbox on Monday.

LINDA VIZI, FBI: We're going to take a look to see if they are connected. We will have analysis done on the handwriting and as well as the materials, fingerprints, whatever other forensics are available to us at the laboratory, step by step it will be conducted.

ARENA: Monday's note also mentioned the al Qaeda terrorist network. But one investigator says al Qaeda was badly misspelled and that so far there is no evidence linking the bomb to any terrorist group.

Authorities say the bomber's intended target is not clear. The package was not addressed. It did not have any postage. One investigator rated the bomb in terms of sophistication at "a six," 10 being the most sophisticated. But he refused to elaborate for fear of copycats.

Monday's bomb, found in a foam box, was packed with nails and explosive charge. When police detonated it, investigators say shrapnel flew about 100 feet, but no one was hurt.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The explosion was, it shook all the windows in all the houses.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did it really?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. It was very loud and very, it was big.

ARENA (on camera): The FBI, postal investigators and local police are investigating, but still no suspect. They are canvassing the neighborhood for possible eyewitnesses.

Kelli Arena, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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