ABC - Philly.com

Friday, October 19, 2001

Suitcase at Center City bus terminal loaded with explosive

Police Commissioner Timoney is to discuss the incident at a 4 p.m. news conference. The terminal was evacuated this morning.

By Thomas J. Gibbons Jr. INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

A suitcase containing the plastic explosive C-4 was discovered this morning in a suitcase that had been stored at the Greyhound bus terminal in Center City, according to police.

The terminal was exacuated and closed this morning after the discovery of what at first was deemed to be a "suspicious" suitcase. But police commanders this afternoon confirmed that the material inside the bag was the explosive C-4. Also in the bag was a military-style detonation cord.

Police sources said that the C-4 and detonation cord on their own did not pose a threat to the public; the explosive is very stable and requires a blasting cap to explode.

Police Commissioner John F. Timoney announced he would provide details about the discovery and the police investigation of the incident at a 4 p.m. news conference today.

Police and fire units rushed to the scene and surrounded the terminal at 10th and Filbert Streets. A bus was parked across the Arch Street bus driveway to block vehicles from driving in.

Police Sgt. Roland Lee said the suitcase was discovered shortly after 10:30. Police bomb squad members arrived and began setting up equipment to X-ray the suitcase.

Buses bound for the terminal were letting off passengers outside the building, but no one was allowed in the building. Departing bus trips were cancelled.

At a news conference shortly after noon, Deputy Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson said that investigators were not sure what they had on their hands and that police were using "caution and prevention" in taking action.

Johnson, the department's second highest official, said that to the untrained eye the substance appears to be "some sort of explosive device, but at this point until it is tested we really don't know what it is. It appears to be C-4; it may be C-4."

Johnson said a cord found with the suitcase was also being checked to see whether it was a detonation cord.

"Right now everything is safe," Johnson said of the scene.

Investigators were taking fingerprints and searching for other clues, Johnson said. "Whoever put the device there, hopefully we can find them," he said.

The suitcase has been in storage since around Oct. 6, when it moved from a locker by Greyhound employees when it had apparently been abandoned, Johnson said.

The discovery of the suspicious substance occurred this morning as Greyhound workers were going through routine searching of suitcases that had been left unclaimed for about two weeks to see whether there was clothing inside that could be given to the needy.

Johnson said the suitcase would be taken to the Police Academy in Northeast Philadelphia to be analyzed.

C-4 - short for Composite-4 - is an explosive called RDX (Research Development Explosive) mixed with a plasticizer to give it a firm but pliable form like putty. It can be pushed into any shape and has a long shelf life.

It is believed to have been used in the explosion that damaged the USS Cole last year.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

Answers

C-4 is a very powerful explosive. A litle goes a long way. Glad that the authorities got this before it was used.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

I remember the joy of travelling in Britain during the bomb scares. The luggage lockers were all off limits, so I had to carry my suitcase with me wherever I went touristing.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

And if you left it unattended for even a moment, it was blown up by a remote control robot thingie. And no trash cans in which to deposit its remains, either.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

Sounds like it was only being stored there, and was not set up as a bomb, yet. Perhaps someone left it there for a while for later use but then couldn't return to pick it up. Anyway, C-4 is interesting stuff. When a blasting cap is used to set it off it really is powerful. But without a blasting cap it's not dangerous at all. A friend of mine who was in Viet Nam said they would use it to heat their meals. They tore off a small hunk and lit it with a match. It would just burn real hot and they could cook a meal or boil water very fast. Imagine that. Even when it was burning it wouldn't explode. He said it was used as a common fuel when out in the field.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

well if it burns like that, they can give it to the needy to keep warm this winter.

-- Anonymous, October 20, 2001

Great idea Barefoot. Maybe they will include some C-4 in those MRE packets they are dropping to the starving Afghanis. Without the caps of course.

-- Anonymous, October 20, 2001