Posted on Fri, Apr 29, 2011 : 10:29 a.m.
Pop bottle bomb is set off at Ypsilanti apartment complex
By Lee Higgins
A man set off a "works" bomb Thursday night in a courtyard at Huron View Apartments on Green Road in Ypsilanti, police said.
The man was inside an apartment building at 6:09 p.m., when he opened a door to the courtyard and threw a 2-liter bottle containing an unknown liquid outside, Det. Sgt. Troy Fulton said.
The bottle exploded, Fulton said, but no one was injured. A security guard reported the incident. So far, no one has been arrested.
Such bombs are often made by mixing Drano and foil in a bottle. Area law enforcement agencies have warned in the past that the bombs can cause burns or blindness.
Anyone with information can call police at (734) 483-9510.
Comments
JS
Mon, May 2, 2011 : 4:49 p.m.
Seriously? I remember the good ol' days, back before the hysteria and the "Oh jeez, I gotta shield my kid from everything from tin foil to bottle rockets". What's the big deal? I understand and agree that this guy is a (suspected) idiot for (allegedly) tossing this into the public courtyard, but come on, seriously? I can remember when I was a kid, I (hypothetically) made these things often and set them off in my back yard. It's not like he put it in a school, or a mailbox, or taped it to someone's cat. It's not that difficult to figure out. If you don't think your kid can comprehend the idea that when you increase the pressure inside a bottle beyond a certain point that it will make a really cool, really loud, BOOM sound, then you need quite the reality check. Something a little more safe for the kids: You can make a really neat smoke "device" by mixing sugar and saltpeter 50/50, then slowly warming the mixture till the sugar caramelizes and solidifies, then you stick a match head into the glob and light it. A tuna can full of this stuff will blanket a city block in thick white smoke. Come on parents, if you focus your efforts better, maybe you can be the proud parents of the next Melvin Calvin or Dorothy Hodgkin.
JS
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 9:35 a.m.
Although I would think that says a bit more about mental disorders and parenting, than curiosity and smoke bombs....
JS
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 9:33 a.m.
Touché.
free
Mon, May 2, 2011 : 11:06 p.m.
Or Ted Kaczynski.
Davidian
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 4:22 p.m.
Mlive is not exactly releasing the instructions on atomic weaponry. Kids are not stupid. They can use google to get the instructions. Relax.
RJA
Sat, Apr 30, 2011 : 5:31 p.m.
OMG, I so agree with Ricebrnr and Xraymoo! This coward should have just let it go off in his own apartment.
free
Fri, Apr 29, 2011 : 5:49 p.m.
Where's the button to censor articles like you censor people's posts?
Lovaduck
Fri, Apr 29, 2011 : 5:01 p.m.
Why did you tell how to make them. Ann Arbor.com is totally irresponsible. You should be ashamed.
Xraymoo
Fri, Apr 29, 2011 : 4:53 p.m.
It's a little disappointing that the author of the article found it necessary to describe how such devices could be made. I understand that the information is readily available via an internet search but if someone was injured at least law enforcement would have search engine records for prosecution. Thankfully nobody was injured in the lapse of judgement by the culprit.
Ricebrnr
Fri, Apr 29, 2011 : 4:21 p.m.
OMG!!! You told! Now bring on the copycats.... Thought you guys specifically stated during the last spate that you were not going to disclose and define what a "works" bomb was....
Davidian
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 4:19 p.m.
I knew how to make works bombs in 1988. We didn't know have the internet and it wasn't published anywhere. Kids aren't stupid, they already know.