OAKLAND, Maine — The Maine State Police Bomb Squad detonated what turned out to be a fake pipe bomb at an Oakland church on Wednesday afternoon, according to police.
Oakland police Capt. Rick Stubbert said a passer-by alerted police at 9:15 Wednesday morning. The device was found on the steps of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church.
“It looked like a pipe bomb but it did not contain any explosive materials,” Stubbert told the Bangor Daily News.
Police were swift in their response, according to Stubbert, shutting down the busy residential street and evacuating residents.
The state police bomb squad used a remote-controlled robot to investigate, and when the device was blasted open, authorities determined it wasn’t a pipe bomb.
“It was a container that resembled a pipe bomb,” said Sgt. Ken Grimes of the state fire marshal’s office.
“It was taken very seriously because it looked like a pipe bomb,” added Stubbert. “That was the general consensus of all three agencies involved.”
Sue Bernard, communications director for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, said the group was thankful that nobody was seriously injured.
“The Church is troubled about the alarming and disturbing incident that took place at St. Theresa’s Church in Oakland today,” Bernard said in a statement. “While we are grateful no one was injured and no damage occurred, we are anxious to find out the results of the police investigation and hopeful that this was not intentionally threatening.”
Grimes said it’s standard protocol to detonate a device that resembles a bomb.
“Everything went according to plan, which is the best result,” he said. “Everybody was safe and there was no property damage.”
Stubbert said the incident remains under investigation.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
I can understand people getting frustrated with some of these religious organizations lately, but good grief. A bomb?? Hopefully it’s a false alarm.
—-
Yes, I see that. Glad it wasn’t the real deal
That assumes someone that is frustrated with religious organizations put it there.
Agreed…It indeed was an assumption.
It sounds like they blew up something, that own it’s own, would not have blown up. Apparently if you put on the suits and get the robot, somethings getting blown up. Why not.
The would be “terrorist” couldn’t even hit an active church. This one along with 2 others were mothballed by the local parish last fall to save money. All Catholic masses in that area are now held in Waterville & Winslow.
Seems suspicious, eh ?
isnt a pipe bomb with no explosive materials….just a pipe? headline should read…COPS SHOW UP IN FULL FORCE TO DETONATE HARMLESS PIPE.
The article stated that it resembled a pipe bomb. A pipe bomb is more than a piece of pipe. If it had a pipe cap on each end and a fuse of some sort or wires sticking out of one end it would be reasonable to assume that someone constructed an explosive device designed to do bodily harm. If it met the qualifications that I’ve listed above, they had no way of knowing that it was a dummy…so you treat it the same as a firearm in an unknown state(you assume that it’s loaded).
“so you treat it the same as a firearm in an unknown state(you assume
that it’s loaded). ”
Rule #1 all firearms are ALWAYS loaded. No such thing as a unloaded firearm…
thanks for clearing that up.