Explosives Theft Has Authorities On Edge Agencies Discuss Threat Received By Newspaper

Fri., July 17, 1998

By Bill Morlin billm@spokesman.com

The theft of a “significant quantity” of commercial-grade explosive in southern Idaho is worrying law enforcement officers monitoring this weekend’s Aryan Nations parade in Coeur d’Alene.

The theft of 350 pounds of ammonium nitrate and 859 blasting caps was reported to police in Boise on Wednesday.

“It’s a significant amount of explosives, and it has our concern,” said a law enforcement officer who attended a briefing Thursday in Coeur d’Alene for various local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

Investigators who attended the briefing said authorities have no idea where the thieves may have taken the ammonium nitrate, or what they may use it for, but were only alerting law enforcement in the Coeur d’Alene and Spokane areas as a precaution.

Investigators also discussed a detailed bomb threat against The Spokesman-Review that the newspaper received Wednesday. The threat contained racist and ethnic slurs.

Representatives from the FBI, federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department; Idaho State Police; Coeur d’Alene police; and Spokane law enforcement agencies attended the briefing.

The theft in Boise occurred either late Tuesday or early Wednesday at a Superior Blasting Inc. construction site east of Boise, the Idaho Statesman is reporting in today’s edition.

The ATF and the Ada County Sheriff’s Department are investigating the theft.

The Statesman reports that two people were involved in the theft, but there are no suspects.

The explosives are identical to those used in the bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building in 1995.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.