Police Investigating Weekend Hazmat Scare At Gayton Branch Library
We’re just now learning that the Henrico Police were called to the Gayton Library at Pump & Gayton Roads early Saturday morning. NBC12 reports that a “homemade chemical explosive device” was found. Authorities didn’t take any chances, calling in hazmat crews to investigate the object.
The device was found to be relatively harmless after the crews investigated further and was simply a two-liter bottle with a caustic chemical inside. The building never had to be evacuated.
Henrico Police are still trying to determine the source of the mysterious object left at the library.
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What is wrong with the people who do this?
The only thing “wrong” here is the silly overreaction of the police, press, and public.
This was without a doubt nothing more than a teenage prank. A very common teenage prank, one that has been going on for decades. Yes, DECADES.
These sorts of “devices” (if one can even call them that) only require two very common ingredients found in any household. The teens put these two things into a plastic 2 liter coke bottle, wait a few minutes for the gas pressure to build. When the pressure builds to maximum, the plastic bottle bursts with a loud bang. No fire, no dangerous shrapnel, just a bang.
If real fireworks were legal in VA, I doubt the kids would go to the trouble. Since fireworks can’t be had, they use cleaning supplies to make their own.
This isn’t about terrists’ or psychos or any real threat, it’s just an obvious and inevitable behavior of the common, everyday, bored suburban teenager.
Someone on the RTD website commented on this article with one of the funniest stories I’ve heard in a while. It’s worth the read.
http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/crime/article/BOMB07_20090606-221403/272355/P10/
D-franklin, I’m sorry, but you have no idea what you’re talking about. These types of devices (and yes, they are considered real explosive devices and are punishable with jail time) can be extremely dangerous. Depending on the ingredients used, when they go off, they can spray dangerouly caustic materials. And since it’s impossible to tell what ingredients are used by just looking at it, it’s better to be safe than sorry and treat it like a dangerous device. Not to mention that even the force of the explosion itself (or the “bang” as you call it) can cause serious bodily harm.
It may be a prank, and it may be a dangerous item, but for NBC 12 to report that it was a “homemade chemical explosive device” before knowing all of the facts is just pure incompetent journalism. They wanted ratings and people to say, “Oh my God!”, and I’m sure they got just what they wanted. What schools churn out these negligent reporters? It is a bad economy with many layoffs, let’s start with the person that allowed that to be broadcast.