TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

3 Boys Collared For Bottle Bombs

ADVERTISEMENT

By MIKE WELLS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 18, 2007

Updated: 09/18/2007 10:55 pm

Video: Children Said It Looked Like Kool-Aid

ODESSA - Three middle school students were arrested and accused of bringing "acid bombs" to a bus stop Tuesday morning, sheriff's officials say. One bomb detonated, but no one was injured.

The juveniles, all boys, brought 20-ounce plastic water bottles filled with liquid and other material to the bus stop at Stanza Court and LeClaire Shores Drive, Hillsborough County sheriff's spokesman J.D. Callaway said. Two of the children were 11 years old, and the third was 12.

One of the bombs began to activate, and the children tossed it into a storm sewer when it erupted. They dropped the other device and ran.

Deputies arrived and found the bottle, which contained blue liquid and aluminum foil, Callaway said.

There were five children at the bus stop at 8 a.m. when the one device detonated.

Deputies found the children at Walker Middle School and charged each with possessing and placing a destructive device, a felony. They were taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center.

The juveniles, whose names were not released, told deputies they intended only to play with the bombs and did not intend to hurt anyone or damage property, Callaway said.

Homemade chemical bombs, also known as acid bombs, bottle bombs, and MacGyver bombs, are explosive devices that easily can be made from volatile household chemicals, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When the ingredients are combined and shaken in a capped container, the internal gas pressure generated from the chemical reaction causes the container to expand and explode.

Reporter Mike Wells can be reached at (813) 259-7839 or mwells@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT