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Ardmore police continued to seek answers Thursday night to questions about who placed an explosive device in the parking lot of a local church and what prompted the action.
FBI Oklahoma Public Information Officer, Agent Clay Simmonds, said about 5:20 p.m. agents were involved in investigating the incident which began about 12:30 p.m. when Ardmore police were called to the parking lot of Northwest Baptist Church. Simmonds said agents became involved after action taken by three members of an Oklahoma Highway Patrol Bomb Squad to “render (the device) safe.”
Cpl. Jason Qualls, Ardmore Police Department Public Information Officer, confirmed officers had responded to the church after receiving a report of a suspicious looking object.
“A device had been found — a can, wrapped in black electrical tape, with what appeared to be a fuse at one end, was found,” Qualls said, adding the APD had immediately requested assistance from OHP bomb technicians.
Capt. Ronnie Hampton, Commander OHP Troop F, headquartered in Ardmore, confirmed bomb technicians were dispatched to the scene from Durant. The OHP squad arrived mid afternoon and the device was immobilized.
While sources near the scene said the device was detonated, officials did not immediately confirm how the device was “rendered safe.”
About 5:15 p.m. Hampton said, “I received an e-mail from their (bomb squad) commander they had been mobilized. I have not received a final report from him on exactly how they handled it.”
While the FBI took the lead role in the immediate aftermath of immobilizing the device by 9 p.m. the probe had been placed back under the direction of the Ardmore Police Department.
Sgt. Kevin Norris, APD Criminal Investigation Division, said at 9:25 p.m. while no one had been officially arrested at that time, “We do anticipate charges will be filed at the state level tomorrow (Friday).”
Ardmore police continued to seek answers Thursday night to questions about who placed an explosive device in the parking lot of a local church and what prompted the action.
FBI Oklahoma Public Information Officer, Agent Clay Simmonds, said about 5:20 p.m. agents were involved in investigating the incident which began about 12:30 p.m. when Ardmore police were called to the parking lot of Northwest Baptist Church. Simmonds said agents became involved after action taken by three members of an Oklahoma Highway Patrol Bomb Squad to “render (the device) safe.”
Cpl. Jason Qualls, Ardmore Police Department Public Information Officer, confirmed officers had responded to the church after receiving a report of a suspicious looking object.
“A device had been found — a can, wrapped in black electrical tape, with what appeared to be a fuse at one end, was found,” Qualls said, adding the APD had immediately requested assistance from OHP bomb technicians.
Capt. Ronnie Hampton, Commander OHP Troop F, headquartered in Ardmore, confirmed bomb technicians were dispatched to the scene from Durant. The OHP squad arrived mid afternoon and the device was immobilized.
While sources near the scene said the device was detonated, officials did not immediately confirm how the device was “rendered safe.”
About 5:15 p.m. Hampton said, “I received an e-mail from their (bomb squad) commander they had been mobilized. I have not received a final report from him on exactly how they handled it.”
While the FBI took the lead role in the immediate aftermath of immobilizing the device by 9 p.m. the probe had been placed back under the direction of the Ardmore Police Department.
Sgt. Kevin Norris, APD Criminal Investigation Division, said at 9:25 p.m. while no one had been officially arrested at that time, “We do anticipate charges will be filed at the state level tomorrow (Friday).”
