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Exploding Target Blamed on Death.
grumpygy
Member Posts: 48,464 ✭✭✭
quote:Federal investigators believe a deadly blast Thursday along U.S. 26 on Mount Hood was caused by a "substantial" amount of material that target shooters use to make exploding targets.
The explosion killed one person and left a crater in the ground just 10 feet off the highway.
Clackamas County sheriff's officials will now try to determine if the blast was a homicide, suicide or accident.
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined that the blast didn't violate federal codes controlling explosives and turned the investigation over to the Sheriff's Office.
Authorities haven't released the identity of the victim yet. Dr. Karen Gunson, Oregon State medical examiner, confirmed the victim died of "blast injuries and body fragmentation," but said she could not yet make public his name.
Meanwhile, FBI agents swarmed a Northeast Portland residence Thursday afternoon, but declined to explain how -- or whether -- the two events were connected.
About 6:30 a.m. Thursday, the U.S. Forest Service reported an explosion roughly six miles east of Welches, bringing in federal agents, the Metropolitan Explosive Disposal Unit and dozens of local police. U.S. 26 was closed in both directions for about 12 hours during the investigation.
Brian Bennett, an ATF spokesman in Seattle, declined to speculate how much of the explosive material was used to create such damage. The crater left was more than 10 feet wide and 2 feet deep.
"All I can say is there was a large blast -- very large," Bennett said. "But we still aren't sure how much or exactly what kind of materials were involved."
Several companies make binary explosive target kits, which are commonly available at gun stores. Generally, they require mixing together an oxidizer and fuel before they become volatile. The mixture is then placed in a can or a jar that will explode when hit by a bullet.
"It takes a bullet to set them off," Bennett said. "At this point, how this material was ignited is one of the unknowns."
The kits, widely available on the Internet, require no background checks or proof of identity to buy, have no storage requirements and aren't regulated as an explosive.
The blast occurred just off U.S. 26 near Milepost 48. When investigators converged on the scene, they found a white car parked along the highway and a gaping hole in the ground.
They didn't know if there were additional explosives on the scene and used an armored blast-resistant robot to explore the site. Bomb squad technicians detonated several smaller charges to open a car found along the road, and the robot opened its trunk. The robot removed a backpack, which subsequently was X-rayed. But no additional explosives were found.
Later Thursday, authorities cordoned off a two-story fourplex in the 8500 block of Northeast Halsey Street in Portland. Neighbors reported seeing investigators taking items out of one of the units, which had the same address as the car registration.
An FBI spokeswoman briefly addressed reporters gathered nearby, but would not confirm any link between the apartment and the explosion.
The front door of one unit was taped off with black-and-yellow police tape, as was the empty parking lot. One neighbor said police arrived at the building about 8 or 9 a.m.
Shortly after 6:30 p.m., several agents left the apartment with a young man. One of the investigators tore off the tape from the apartment entrance, but the parking lot remained cordoned off. It was unclear who the young man was or his connection -- if any -- with the investigation.
What Tannerite has to say about it.
quote:Hey guys. Another fleecing is being pulled by the media. Some nut with no job or name " released" is said to have been target shooting with exploding targets and killed his self. They claim the Feds "blame exploding targets" yet the lead agent says right here "they don't know what kind of explosive it is".
And it was discovered at 6:30am. Let's humor them and assumed it happened at 6:30. As an early riser, here's how visible it is outside at 6:25-6:35AM. We just took the pick (see comment section where series of pics are). Real nice target shooting visibility right? Then, there's no gun found by police? And it's right on the hwy? Don't know about you, but it's looking to us like the media is airing to the dark side on this one and trying to make things up. Let's not forget that in product testing 20 years ago Dan shot a 1 pound target, suspended off the ground at 6 feet away and felt a tickle on his bare arms. To be liked by Tannerite you would have to be standing on top of a horrific amount and shoot it at point blank range, and even then, maybe. "Fire marshal bob" reporting and investigating going on. Absolutely nothing said here in this article makes sense. Even if it was "similar to exploding target mixtures" it wasn't a target and wouldn't have been used in accordance with both Tannerite's and the FBIs listed intended use.
The explosion killed one person and left a crater in the ground just 10 feet off the highway.
Clackamas County sheriff's officials will now try to determine if the blast was a homicide, suicide or accident.
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined that the blast didn't violate federal codes controlling explosives and turned the investigation over to the Sheriff's Office.
Authorities haven't released the identity of the victim yet. Dr. Karen Gunson, Oregon State medical examiner, confirmed the victim died of "blast injuries and body fragmentation," but said she could not yet make public his name.
Meanwhile, FBI agents swarmed a Northeast Portland residence Thursday afternoon, but declined to explain how -- or whether -- the two events were connected.
About 6:30 a.m. Thursday, the U.S. Forest Service reported an explosion roughly six miles east of Welches, bringing in federal agents, the Metropolitan Explosive Disposal Unit and dozens of local police. U.S. 26 was closed in both directions for about 12 hours during the investigation.
Brian Bennett, an ATF spokesman in Seattle, declined to speculate how much of the explosive material was used to create such damage. The crater left was more than 10 feet wide and 2 feet deep.
"All I can say is there was a large blast -- very large," Bennett said. "But we still aren't sure how much or exactly what kind of materials were involved."
Several companies make binary explosive target kits, which are commonly available at gun stores. Generally, they require mixing together an oxidizer and fuel before they become volatile. The mixture is then placed in a can or a jar that will explode when hit by a bullet.
"It takes a bullet to set them off," Bennett said. "At this point, how this material was ignited is one of the unknowns."
The kits, widely available on the Internet, require no background checks or proof of identity to buy, have no storage requirements and aren't regulated as an explosive.
The blast occurred just off U.S. 26 near Milepost 48. When investigators converged on the scene, they found a white car parked along the highway and a gaping hole in the ground.
They didn't know if there were additional explosives on the scene and used an armored blast-resistant robot to explore the site. Bomb squad technicians detonated several smaller charges to open a car found along the road, and the robot opened its trunk. The robot removed a backpack, which subsequently was X-rayed. But no additional explosives were found.
Later Thursday, authorities cordoned off a two-story fourplex in the 8500 block of Northeast Halsey Street in Portland. Neighbors reported seeing investigators taking items out of one of the units, which had the same address as the car registration.
An FBI spokeswoman briefly addressed reporters gathered nearby, but would not confirm any link between the apartment and the explosion.
The front door of one unit was taped off with black-and-yellow police tape, as was the empty parking lot. One neighbor said police arrived at the building about 8 or 9 a.m.
Shortly after 6:30 p.m., several agents left the apartment with a young man. One of the investigators tore off the tape from the apartment entrance, but the parking lot remained cordoned off. It was unclear who the young man was or his connection -- if any -- with the investigation.
What Tannerite has to say about it.
quote:Hey guys. Another fleecing is being pulled by the media. Some nut with no job or name " released" is said to have been target shooting with exploding targets and killed his self. They claim the Feds "blame exploding targets" yet the lead agent says right here "they don't know what kind of explosive it is".
And it was discovered at 6:30am. Let's humor them and assumed it happened at 6:30. As an early riser, here's how visible it is outside at 6:25-6:35AM. We just took the pick (see comment section where series of pics are). Real nice target shooting visibility right? Then, there's no gun found by police? And it's right on the hwy? Don't know about you, but it's looking to us like the media is airing to the dark side on this one and trying to make things up. Let's not forget that in product testing 20 years ago Dan shot a 1 pound target, suspended off the ground at 6 feet away and felt a tickle on his bare arms. To be liked by Tannerite you would have to be standing on top of a horrific amount and shoot it at point blank range, and even then, maybe. "Fire marshal bob" reporting and investigating going on. Absolutely nothing said here in this article makes sense. Even if it was "similar to exploding target mixtures" it wasn't a target and wouldn't have been used in accordance with both Tannerite's and the FBIs listed intended use.
Comments
I can't recall ever seeing one with that shape.
1 lb of c4 lying on top of the ground (depending on soil type) might make a crater 6-12" deep by 12-18" wide.
Anything that I've ever buried has blasted a hole of about a 1:2 depth to diameter ratio.
Maybe a burn mark 10 feet in diameter? or perhaps very loose sandy soil there. still, that doesn't seem right...
It is a simple rule. Do not be near the explosive when it goes BOOM!
The human element failed.
all the youtube posting of cars trucks animals , will just provide more fuel to help its demise .
Having shot Tannerite a couple of times I never really noted any earthen material displacement. To get a "crater" that size I am trying to calculate how much Tannerite they would have to mix.
Perhaps the moron in question had a couple of propane tanks that he placed the material on (if it was even used) and then shot it.
but it depends on the "agenda" of getting it made illegal time will tell
quote:Originally posted by medic07
I have to call BS on the binary target mixture causing a 10 foot diameter by 2 foot deep "crater".
Having shot Tannerite a couple of times I never really noted any earthen material displacement. To get a "crater" that size I am trying to calculate how much Tannerite they would have to mix.
Perhaps the moron in question had a couple of propane tanks that he placed the material on (if it was even used) and then shot it.
Loose sand, forest loam, something sturdy around and atop the explosive, it's liable to dig a little hole.
Thinking of a 1975 explosion caused by some foolish young men northwest side of Tucson. They were shooting .30-06 AP ammo at an explosives shack. The four tons of dynamite left three of them dead just eighty feet from the blast. One survivor 150 feet away. Pieces of 1/2 inch thick steel doors found a mile away. Broken windows in homes a mile and a half away.
That blast barely did a thing to the ground under it, mostly it went up and away.
That reminds me; I need to order some. My supply ran out last year.
Can't find Tannerite on fleabay anymore [:o)]
I buy from their store. Right near where they make it.[8D]
ATF says someone got blown up by something they'd like to have regulated. They don't know who got blown up but they went to an address(which must have belonged to someone) for some undisclosed reason. A highway was closed for 12 hours(so the fuzz had plenty of time to plant "evidence") and they still don't know what type of explosive was used?? Sure they don't. Another Federal agency reported the explosion vs a "citizen"-that's also quite handy.
I've heard BS before and it sounded a lot like this report.