Bomb squad detonates a package near a Target store in Somerville, Mass.

[Ian David]

SOMERVILLE, Mass. -- Cause for alarm near a store in Somerville.

The bomb squad moved in to check out a suspicious package. Crews found a drink bottle that appeared to have wires coming out of it.

It was near a Target store on Charlestown Street.

The Cambridge Bomb Squad was called in to detonate the package at the scene.

Police are looking into how it got there.



http://www3.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO56303/


See also:


Police: Suspicious package found at Target register was harmless

Somerville -

At about 4:30 today, Somerville Police received a call from the Target Department Store at 182 Somerville Avenue, reporting that a suspicious package had been found between cash register lanes near the front of the store.

A Target manager had moved the device to a vacant area outside the store before calling police. The device, which consisted of wires and a cylindrical object inside a bottle, was not recognized by Target employees as anything that should be in their store.

Somerville Police called in bomb technicians from the Cambridge Police Department. They examined the object with a robot and later detonated the device with a water cannon. It was learned by examination of the debris that the device had been harmless.

Somerville Detectives are reviewing store surveillance tapes to determine who left the device in the store and why. Anyone with information should contact Somerville Police Detectives at 617 625-1600

http://www.townonline.com/somerville/homepage/x624301881

Hmmm...

Has anyone seen Claude Allen lately?

Friday Night Surprise: White House Aide Caught In Shoplifting Scheme



When Claude Allen, the former Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, resigned suddenly a few weeks ago, the White House gave its official explanation for the departure:

President Bush’s domestic policy advisor, Claude A. Allen, has resigned to spend more time with his family, the White House said.

Many were skeptical of the White House’s explanation. It turns out the suspicions were justified: Allen was arrested yesterday and charged in a “retail theft scheme.” From the police report:

The Target Loss Prevention Manger contacted Montgomery County Police and through the police investigation it was learned that Allen had been receiving refunds in an amount exceeding $5,000 during last year. Some of the fraudulent returns were made at Target stores and some at Hecht’s stores. He would buy items, take them out to his car, and return to the store with the receipt. He would select the same items he had just purchased, and then return them for a refund. Allen is known to have conducted approximately 25 of these types of refunds, having the money credited to his credit cards.

Throughout 2005 he obtained refunds for items ranging from clothing, a Bose theater system, stereo equipment, and photo printer to items valued only at $2.50.


More:
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/10/claude-allen/

[Mz Pip]

1. Rise of the wannabes

They don't have to be terrorists, they just have to be idiots who want to get attention. I hope they catch these fools and prosecute them or at least charge them for the police time.

Mz Pip
:dem: