UW-Madison police responded to a pipe-bomb threat in a mailbox Monday afternoon at 610 Walnut Street near the WARF Research Center. The threat was a false alarm.
The police and several other authorities (including The Dane County Explosive Ordinance Disposal; Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms; Postal Officials and the FBI) responded to a call of smoke and a loud noise from a US Postal Drop Box. There was no evidence found to confirm the box harbored an explosive device.
“Given the severity of the call we investigated the area thoroughly and found nothing,” Sgt. Pete Ystenes said.
Sixteen pipe bombs have been found in several Midwestern states — including Iowa, Nebraska and Illinois and have injured six people — and police say the bombs may be from a disgruntled government employee.
A pipe bomb found Monday in Colorado matches bombs found in the Midwest.
Ystenes said witnesses who placed the call may have mistaken nearby construction work for something more dangerous due to the recent outbreak of mailbox pipe bombs. He said UW Police received similar pedestrian worries when cases of anthrax arose in September.
After the call the area was cleared for an hour and a half, but there was no trace anything out of the ordinary occurred.
“It turned out to be nothing,” John Lucas of UW Communications said. “It was a total false alarm. I just think everybody is especially jittery with all of the pipe bombs.”
UW police are continuing to investigate, but say the incident appears unrelated to recent events, and there is nothing to suggest that there is a danger to the public at this time.
The bombs, made with six-inch pipes and nine-volt batteries, were deposited in free-standing mailboxes along country roads. The bomber has left typed anti-government letters, signed by “someone who cares,” threatening other violence.
“The United States strives to provide freedom for their people. Do we really have personal freedom? I’ve lived here for many years, and I see much limitation,” one letter said.
“Does the definition of freedom include limitation? I’ve learned about the history of various civilizations in history, and I see more and more limitation. Do you people enjoy this trend of limitation? If not, change it!”
The FBI called the bombs an act of domestic terrorism, similar to anthrax letters that followed the Sept. 11 suicide bombings.
Four letter carriers and two residents were injured by bomb blasts, though none of the injuries were life-threatening.
FBI investigators said they believe only one person is involved because letters with the bombs are written in the first person.
-Reuters contributed to this report
