IED’s found in vehicle near state capitol in what could have been a plot to kill elected officials
TOPEKA, KANSAS - The Topeka Police and Kansas Highway Patrol removed IED’s (“Improvised Explosive Devices” ) from a truck parked near the state capitol building in Topeka, Kansas.
“With the use of their police robot, they were able to remove several improvised explosive devices from the vehicle,” said Kansas Capitol Police spokesman Patrick Saleh, in an ABC news report.
Federal officials described the devices as looking like or being composed of large fireworks , possibly M100s. Local police officials describe the explosive devices as “small improvised devices” (SID’s). Called “half sticks” M-100 are serious fireworks. In a Youtube video of a m100 placed under a steel trash can shows it blowing up and sending the can flying airborne almost 30 feet. It landed about 15 feet away completely shredded (See: youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sXNnOqXJRo , see also http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBnvvEuny4M ).
“You can cause some serious damage with a couple of M100 strapped together to a can of gasoline”, said IED expert in Kansas, who wished to remain anonymous. “To have them in your vehicle near the capitol should be considered a serious indication this guy was up to no good”, this person said.
The black truck had Florida “paratrooper license plates”, according to KAKE news, indicating the person who owned it may be ex-military, or have ex-military affiliations. Saleh said authorities were interviewing the truck’s owner and it was not clear that he would be charged with a crime, which could mean the suspect borrowed or stole the vehicle used in a possible assassination or murder attempt against elected officials.
The person was taken into custody “without resistance” and is currently being interviewed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms,” Saleh said. According to the Washington Post police said they arrested the owner inside an underground tunnel connecting the Capitol to an office building.
“I won’t know if we’re going to charge him at the state level or they’ll charge him at the federal level, or charges will be filed at all,” Saleh said. “It all hinges on their interview and what their plans are next, at this point.”
Saleh told ABC News there were no apparent ties to foreign terrorism, but refused to speculate if this was domestic terrorism.
Saleh said the incident was not connected to another arrest Wednesday of a man who allegedly phoned in a threat to Gov. Sam Brownback’s office from a Topeka motel, which happened on the same day as the incident at the capitol.
“Cops possibly thwarted an assassination attempt or terrorist attack”, said Killian Moore of Charlotte, an expert in SID’s (“Small Improvised Explosive Devices”).
Robert Tilford
Charlotte, N.C.
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