Series of ENN Real-Time Reports - Letter bombs at the U.N. in New York City
Excerpted from ENN Daily Intelligence Report - 01/13/97 - Vol. 3, No. 013
LETTER BOMBS SHOW UP IN LONDON
By ENN News Team
LONDON (ENN) - A letter bomb exploded at the London office of an Arab newspaper on Monday. Two people were
wounded. Police said that three more suspect devices were later found at the offices of the Al-Hayat newspaper, which is
Saudi-owned.
Police superintendent Derrick Kellegher said, "There are three other suspected devices, the building is being examined to
ensure there are no further explosive devices amongst the mail."
The letter bomb exploded in the basement of the office building located in west London when an employee started
opening the mail. One of the victims injured by the blast sustained face and abdominal injuries. The other man suffered a
burst eardrum and shock.
Monday's attack appears to employ the same modus operandi that was used in the letter bombs that were sent to
Washington DC and Leavenworth, Kansas. Of the eight letter bombs sent to the United States, five of them were
addressed to Al-Hayat. Officials and employees at the newspaper say that do not know why the paper is being targeted.
ENN "Instant Update" 01/13/97 - 11:30CST
Letter Bomb Found at Al-Hayat Office At U.N.
By C. L. Staten, ERRI Analyst
(ENN) As yet unconfirmed reports are being received that a letter bomb has been discovered this morning at the New
York U.N. office of the Al-Hayat newspaper. Apparently, the device has not exploded. Security and bomb squad
personnel are thought to be on-the-scene and the incident is under control. This latest discovery follows an explosion
today in London, at the Al- Hayat offices there. An investigation continues....
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Exclusive to ENN - By Paul Copher, CT-Analyst-At Large - 01/13/97 - 11:49CST
Christmas Card Scheme Used in Letter Bombs
It appears my earlier report on the usage of the small musical circuit boards to complete an explosive train using pressed Semtex is still being used. Several devices are reported today and the NYC Bomb Squad is dealing with them. This may be an ongoing problem as card shops in several malls report that all of the musical or message cards were sold out including sales of 20 plus cards per person in some situations. These are often sent to overseas locations where the devices are placed into IEDs. The usage of the devices in IEDs within the US is /was rare but now all EOD units should be trained in these devices (transport and blow in place).
ENN FLASH Report 01/13/97 - 12:28CST
Letter Bomb Report at Israeli Embassy
By: Jim Fay, ENN NYC/NJ Correspondent
Bomb at UN "made safe" by NYPD Bomb Sq. at this time. Units still enroute to Israeli Mission to UN for another
suspicious package. Address: 800 Third Ave. at East 42 St. Reported also to be in mailroom. Unconfirmed viability of
device at this time.
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ENN Instant Update - 01/13/97 - 13:07CST
Israeli Embassy Bomb Threat; Reports of Multiple Bomb Hoaxes
By Jim Fay, ENN Assoc. Editor
NYPD units are being kept busy this afternoon, as calls come in from various midtown offices as suspicious packages and
letters show up in their mail. Earlier this afternoon, the NYPD Bomb Sq. disabled one confirmed letter bomb to the
Al-Hayat news agency in the UN Building. This was after two of the same type letter bombs went off in the London office
of Al-Hayat earlier. As police were handling the UN situation, a call came in for a "suspicious package" at the Israeli
Consulate to the UN located at 800 Third Ave. at East 42 St. However, that package was declared as "properly
identified" by Bomb Squad members, indicating that it was not a bomb.
While operating at that location, someone reported to police that another suspicious package was located at 304 East 42 St., just around the corner from the Israeli Consulate. NYPD Units are operating at this time at that location and another location in Manhattan, 300 Park Ave., at East 49 St. where patrol units are requesting Emergency Service Units and the Bomb Squad, for yet another suspicious package.
Click HERE to See the Previous ENN Reports on Letter Bombs in Washington