News on CNN: Exploding backpack

[banquo's_bumble_puppy]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/05/07/backpack.explodes.ap/index.html

I hope this isn't the start of something. Anybody know any details?

[HenrikOlsen]

Wonderful:
Headline "Exploding backpack kills man on Vegas strip"
In the actual text "... said Officer Bill Cassell, a police spokesman. He declined to describe the device, but said initial reports that it was a backpack were wrong."

Aaargh!!!

[NEOWatcher]

Wonderful:
Headline "Exploding backpack kills man on Vegas strip"
In the actual text....
Another case of "as the story unfolds".
They did change the headline to "device".

An earlier version of the story said that customers are in no danger. What I would like to know is, why specify customers? Are employees in danger. Were customers in danger previously?

[Fazor]

Good thing it happened in Vegas, I hear the Crime Scene Ivestigation (http://www.cbs.com/primetime/csi/) unit there is top-notch!

On a serious note: obviously all murder is wrong. But murder via means like this really irk me. It's not clear yet whether or not the victim was the intended target, but even if he was what was to stop a curious kid from picking up the device? Or any other random person that walked by? Or what if said innocent just happened to be standing next to the victim? Killing a person for a reason is bad; not caring who else might get hurt is even worse. I just hope this is a case where the killer's "Creativity" is what makes it so easy for them to track him down.

[mugaliens]

Anyone murdering others with exploding backpacks are just asking for trouble, as the number of explosive-sniffing dogs has about doubled since 9-11, and from what I understand, a lot of public places have put rather sensative electronic sniffers in place to detect and deter.

I can see it now:

FBI: "So why were you carrying explosives in that bag? What was your target? The Space Needle? The Golden Gate Bridge?"

Suspect: "No, no - wait! I was only going to kill one person! I swear!"

FBI: "Let's try this again - you are you working for? Who's your handler? We can keep you for dozens of years, you know, without bail, if you refuse to cooperate, under current legislation..."

Not exactly a very bright approach...

[LurchGS]

dagnabbit! my mother in law is in Reno


(actually, Peggy is a very nice person, not at all your sterotypical MIL)

[Maksutov]

dagnabbit! my mother in law is in Reno


(actually, Peggy is a very nice person, not at all your sterotypical MIL)I buried my MIL.

Funny how the nagging stopped.

[Serenitude]

I buried my MIL.

Funny how the nagging stopped.

Was she dead?

[Maksutov]

Was she dead?I think so. Her mouth wasn't moving.

[Tog]

Good thing it happened in Vegas, I hear the Crime Scene Ivestigation (http://www.cbs.com/primetime/csi/) unit there is top-notch!

On a serious note: obviously all murder is wrong. But murder via means like this really irk me. It's not clear yet whether or not the victim was the intended target, but even if he was what was to stop a curious kid from picking up the device? Or any other random person that walked by? Or what if said innocent just happened to be standing next to the victim? Killing a person for a reason is bad; not caring who else might get hurt is even worse. I just hope this is a case where the killer's "Creativity" is what makes it so easy for them to track him down.

First off, I predict this will be the lead off episode for the November sweeps week next season.

Second, I agree with everything else said here. It was sort of a running joke at the last place I worked that I was the one most likely to go postal and come in with a bunch of guns. I always countered this by telling them that if I did, I'd bring an axe or a sword. No such thing as an innocent bystander that way. If you are in range of a gun you might not know, if you are in range of a naked guy covered in grease swinging a fire axe, you'll know.

Explosives are not the way to go for all the reasons mentioned. Too random to employ this way. Too much risk that someone will find it before the target. It's Vegas... You see a bag on the roof in a parking garage, you gotta see if it's full of cash, right?

Also, you gotta figure that it won't be a local police thing. As I understand it, bombs are considered an "Infernal Device" by the ATF and are subject to their rules. If I have that right, blowing someone up gets the Feds on you, not just the Vegas PD. It's not like a shooting where if they don't find you right away you can lay low and they will set you aside after a while. Someone will keep looking. No no... Bombs are not the way to go.

Poisons. Vegas is home to a number of naturally occurring, highly toxic substances. Many more can be obtained with no need for any form of permit. Use one of the many "No-tell Motels" as a lab to do the mixing while your car is up on blocks in your garage, idling away in gear all night long to show that you really did drive to Bakersfield that night, the mileage from the oil change the day before shows it.

What? *blink*

[Gillianren]

It was sort of a running joke at the last place I worked that I was the one most likely to go postal and come in with a bunch of guns.

Me, too. I had a coworker who liked to keep me in chocolate cake so I would go after someone else first, giving him time to escape. I can't say it was a bad idea on his part.

[Swift]

Mandatory Monty Python reference

Mrs Shazam: Oh, Mrs Nigger-Baiter's exploded.
Son: Good thing, too.
Mrs Shazam: She was my best friend.
Son: Oh, mother, don't be so Sentimental. Things explode every day.

[mugaliens]

I think so. Her mouth wasn't moving.

Was that before or after you buried her?

[Matherly]

that I was the one most likely to go postal

Apparently my co-workers expect me to "Go Postal" and deliver their mail.

Hmmm... I wonder if that's part of why no one is afraid of me.

:whistle:

[LurchGS]

It's interesting... I have a very slow fuse. In 12 years at this place of employment, I've become seriously angry twice. About half of my employees have seen it happen once, my partner and one employee have seen it happen both times...

The last time it happened, I came out of my office and couldn't find anybody...at first. Most of them were actually under their desks. They lack the experience to know that I'm VERY good at compartmentalizing my anger. I don't take my anger at Jim out on Sam.

Ah well. Maybe one of these days I'll surprise them.

[Maksutov]

Was that before or after you buried her?Both.