***scroll for updates…another “suspicious device” found in Gwinnett County…explosive device found Friday at UCLA…10/12 Ga Techfreshman confesses***

Checking it out (from WXIA-TV in Atlanta via Drudge):

Three explosive devices found in a courtyard between two Georgia Tech dormitories on the East Campus Monday morning were part of a “terrorist act,” an Atlanta police official said.

One of the devices exploded, injuring the custodian who found them inside a plastic bag. Two others were detonated by a bomb squad.

The custodian suffered ringing to the ears and was treated at a local hospital. The events led to a temporary evacuation Monday morning.

“It is a terrorist act at this point and depending on the outcome of the investigation it potentially could become a federal violation as well,” said Major C.W. Moss of the Atlanta Police Department.

The custodian found the three devices about 9 a.m. in a plastic-type garbage bag, Moss said. When he picked up the bag, one exploded, as it was designed to do when handled. The explosives were made up of chemicals placed inside plastic bottles and could have seriously injured someone, officials said. Numerous agencies were on the Georgia Tech campus to search for suspects…

Recall that in the Oklahoma University bomb incident, per Mark Tapscott’s reporting, that Joel Hinrichs’ car contained “13 plastic bottles” in the trunk.

Cam Edwards is still wondering why the Hinrichs search warrant was sealed by the DOJ. We’ll see how the feds handle this Georgia Tech incident, given that the Atlanta police have already declared it a terrorist act.

***
A few more details via AP:

About 100 students were evacuated from Cloudman and Glenn residence halls after the janitor found the suspicious bottle at 8:45 a.m., said spokeswoman Amelia Gambino…Police still are working to determine what chemicals were in the bottles. The incident prompted authorities to contact the Georgia Department of Homeland Security.

Here’s a campus map. Cloudman and Glenn residence halls are buildings 13 and 16.

***
145pm EDT update. Scouring the Atlanta Journal Constitution site, which didn’t have any news of the Georgia Tech bomb discoveries, but did have a brief report on a separate incident involving a “suspicious device” found earlier this morning at a different location:

A busy Gwinnett County intersection was shut down for about two hours Monday morning after a suspicious device was found in a parking lot, police said.

The “very suspicious device, about the size of a mini-flashlight,” was discovered shortly before 9 a.m. in the parking lot of the QT gas station at Satellite Boulevard and Merchant’s Way near Gwinnett Place Mall, said Gwinnett police spokesman Darren Moloney.

The gas station, as well as a nearby restaurant and strip shopping center, were evacuated, and police closed off the intersection.

Moloney said the device was rendered safe and removed by the arson squad, and the roads and businesses were reopened by 11:15 a.m.

No further information was released about the device.

Maybe coincidence. Maybe not.

***

Stephen Bainbridge notes than an explosive device was discovered on the UCLA campus last Friday. He adds:

Let’s hope it’s just an odd coincidence, but, when coupled with the recent University of Oklahoma bombing, one also hopes that there will be a complete investigation.

Ditto that.

10/12 update: Ga. Tech freshman confesses. Very dumb. In a post-9/11 era, these kinds of pranks deserve strong punishment.

***

Previous/related:

Oklahoma bomber update
Oklahoma bomber: delving deeper
Oklahoma bomber: New details
The Oklahoma suicide bomber
Suicide bomber in Oklahoma
Jason Smith: Is this the great Ramadan offensive?

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