Child finds 'bottle bombs' at Ann Arbor's Windemere Park
Editor's note: This story has been updated with a correct map of the park.
Firefighters disposed of two glass "bottle bombs" found by a child Wednesday night near playground equipment at Windemere Park on the city's north side, Ann Arbor police said.
No one was injured. The bottles were left near the playground equipment between 7 a.m. and 8:15 p.m. Wednesday, Ann Arbor police said.
Windemere Park is a four-acre park along Windemere Drive and Charter Place.
Police did not have any other details this morning.
On Sunday morning, two pop bottle bombs - one of which exploded - were left in the front yard of a home in the 2600 block of Prairie Street. That's also on the city's north side, but it's unclear whether the incidents are related. No one was injured in that case.
City of Ann Arbor map.
Comments
ViSHa
Sun, Aug 1, 2010 : 9:05 a.m.
bbellb, thanks for the description of the bottles. it's good to have a visual of what to look out for.
bedrog
Sat, Jul 31, 2010 : 1:34 p.m.
some police consultation with local israelis...who are sadly forced to be attentive to such things as a matter of course..would be a good thing. even a paid consultant on such is a valid expenditure.
actionjackson
Sat, Jul 31, 2010 : 10:30 a.m.
Any police handling of this incident? Fingerprinting off of glass bottle?
Dave66
Sat, Jul 31, 2010 : 8:43 a.m.
"So now, unfortunately, parents must make a sweep of the playground before they can allow the kids to play." You mean you don't already?!!? I just assumed that was absolutely required. Every time I go into a play ground, I always make a visual sweep of the place looking for hazards. Glass, trash, worn or broken equipment, etc. Why does it take a bottle bomb to provoke even the most basic parenting duties? I can't believe how lazy and irresponsible some people are, even when it comes to their own children.
bbellb
Fri, Jul 30, 2010 : 9:32 p.m.
It was my daughter and 3 year old grand daughter that found the two bottle bombs on the playground equipment. There was also a 1 gallon jug of acid,that was probably left over from the bomb making, that was right next to the two bombs. If they exploded it most likely would have sprayed acid all over. My grand daughter started to climb on the slide before she and her mom saw the bottle bombs. They really didn't look like much, just two Snapple bottles 1/2 full of dirty looking water. We were lucky as things could have turned out badly.
a2migrl
Fri, Jul 30, 2010 : 9:54 a.m.
Thi seems to be a problem of too many youths with too much time on their hands. They need something to do and someplace to go so that they have the option to stay out of trouble. Parents also need to (try) to keep an eye on their teens, which can be tough when one or both parents are working. Parents have to work, especially in this economy.
krc
Fri, Jul 30, 2010 : 9:22 a.m.
So now, unfortunately, parents must make a sweep of the playground before they can allow the kids to play. I hope they catch this idiot soon.
Rasputin
Fri, Jul 30, 2010 : 7:09 a.m.
@ EyeHeartA2, Perhaps you are right and it was at Haisley. All I remember is that the front page of the A2 News had a my HS buddy wailing over the body of our mutual friend. I think the heart of the issue is that both individuals (past and present) have no idea what they're playing with and I'm afraid it will take another accident for the Police to get serious?
Wolverine3660
Thu, Jul 29, 2010 : 4:30 p.m.
How stupid is the person who left these devices? There are toddlers, babies and small kids playing in the park all the time.
proudtobeme
Thu, Jul 29, 2010 : 1:58 p.m.
I think I know the same person you are talking about. But if I recall she was hanging around with someone who was making these things. It appears this case is someone who wants to harm innocent children who wouldn't have a clue what these bottles are. Sad all the way around indeed.
Rasputin
Thu, Jul 29, 2010 : 12:43 p.m.
Back in the late 80s, a A2 HS student set off a pipe bomb that gave one of his friends a permanent brain injury; the young woman never recovered completely and still resides in town. The event ocurred at Burns Park in the summer months. Unfortunately, same old story.
sts1975
Thu, Jul 29, 2010 : 12:39 p.m.
Why is it so difficult to get timely and accurate news? I have always been taught to think before you speak. Reporting news that does not have accurate information seems irresponsible. Can the readers of AnnArbor.com expect this to change? I am just going to get my news from Twitter and Facebook.
sailor67
Thu, Jul 29, 2010 : 12:21 p.m.
These devices are called "Works Bombs" by police and fire officals. Please note that they are inaccurately named "bombs" only because the chemical reaction that causes them to "explode" is too slow to classify them as explosive. The mechanism is actually a rapid chemical reaction between the materials placed in the "bomb". They are called "Works Bombs" because - when they first appeared in this area more than 20 years ago - they used a reactive product made by the "Works" company. (BTW - This product is widely available at your local "dollar" stores.) These devises will normally look like a discarded plastic bottle with the cap on tightly. Note: 2-liter bottles seem to be the favorite container of the kids who make these things. Upon closer inspection, you will see a clear or slightly-milky liquid and some rolled-up balls of a common household material inside. Normally these devises are shaken to initiate the chemical reaction. Fortunately, the pressure of the chemical reaction is usually not sufficient enough to shatter a glass bottle - so glass "bombs" are often found intact but still dangerous. I've tried very hard to answer your question(s) - without revealing the actual formula or the materials involved in the construction of one of these things.
Belgium
Thu, Jul 29, 2010 : 12:05 p.m.
They look like a bottle partially filled with liquid. They have a cap on them.
djm12652
Thu, Jul 29, 2010 : 12:04 p.m.
@Mr. Tibbs...you also forgot about the misunderstood youths whose parents are too busy with their own lives to even come close to knowing or caring what their kids are out doing... Ann Arbor needs to admit, that this town is pretty much like any other town...good people and evil people! Glad no one was hurt...yet
ypsineighbor
Thu, Jul 29, 2010 : 11:44 a.m.
Can someone please post some details/pictures/information about what these things look like so we can teach our kids to STAY AWAY?
Warbler
Thu, Jul 29, 2010 : 11:12 a.m.
The actual location is Windemere and Charter Place. The map, as posted at 12 noon today, is incorrect. For the record, I am sickened that some one could actually leave a bomb like this 2 feet away from a play structure. Kids were clearly the intended target here.
Beth Wilensky
Thu, Jul 29, 2010 : 11:04 a.m.
Lee, can you please clarify the location of the park? There is a Windemere Park (which is a city of A2 park) adjacent to Windemere Road in the Glacier Highlands neighborhood (off of Green and Glazier), but this story and map refer to a location a few miles northwest of that. Are there two Windemere Parks? Thanks.
Ricebrnr
Thu, Jul 29, 2010 : 10:46 a.m.
where are all you "kids will be kids" and "aw shuck t'weren't nothin" folks now? Glass bottles instead of plastic means shrapnel. Leaving them in a park where kids play equals terrorism. Time to reallocate some BATFE and Homeland Security resources away from purported bomb plots against some actual bomb makers and terrorists.
Mr. Tibbs
Thu, Jul 29, 2010 : 10:43 a.m.
heinous. gee I wonder if this person got a time out when he or she was bad, because if they had learned that there is a consequence for your actions....perhaps this person wouldn't be doing this garbage. What I said alluded to spanking....a huge no-no in this town. If anyone is caught for this, and convicted. Do you think the "spanking" they get in jail will be anyless......"enjoyable" or worse, if the child that found these things had gotten hurt, is not teaching your child worth the risk of blinding or maiming another child because you failed at parenting? Oh I get it, your child is incapable of these things....