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CNN Saturday Morning News

Anti-Government Letters Accompanied Mailbox Pipe Bombs

Aired May 04, 2002 - 08:06   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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: As we reported earlier, the FBI is looking into an incident it calls domestic terrorism. Five people were hurt after pipe bombs were placed in mailboxes in parts of rural Iowa and Illinois. Mail delivery has been suspended in those areas today.

CNN justice correspondent Kelli Arena has more in this report she filed late yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Six pipe bombs placed in rural mailboxes in Illinois and Iowa exploded this afternoon. Five people have been injured. Notes found with the bombs warned that "more attention getters" were on the way.

JAMES BOGNER, FBI: We looked at the letter that had accompanied the devices and are viewing it as a domestic terrorism incident. And there is indication that there may be other devices.

ARENA: The letter starts by saying, "Mailboxes are exploding. Why, you ask?" Then it goes on to say, "If the government controls what you want to do, they control what you can do. I'm obtaining your attention in the only way I can. More info is on the way."

In these very early stages of the investigation, there are no suspects.

LINDA JENSEN, U.S. POSTAL INSPECTOR: The devices are accompanied by a clear plastic bag that contains a typed letter written, a typewritten letter full of anti-government propaganda.

ARENA: Eight bombs have been found so far. Two did not detonate and they were found in communities forming a sort of triangle along the Mississippi River. The bombs were not delivered by mail carriers, but anonymously placed in mailboxes and they are described as three quarter inch steel pipes with a nine volt battery attached.

According to postal officials, the bombs will not explode when a mailbox is opened, but will if the package is moved.

Kelli Arena, CNN, Washington.

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