Derby police are trying to find out who has been planting chemical-laced “bottle bombs” on the east side of town.
The latest incident happened Tuesday night on O’Sullivan Road, where a resident called 911 after hearing an explosion.
It was the fourth such incident in a week, Derby police Lt. Justin Stanko said. Luckily, no injuries have been reported.
The bombs are simple to make. The recipes are widely available on the Internet. YouTube is crowded with such demonstrations. A young moron can be seen in the video above.
The mixture of household chemicals inside smaller bottles are being left on lawns, driveways and “other places where they can potentially cause serious injury to unsuspecting people who pick them up,” police said in a prepared statement.
Derby police are worried a resident may pick up a plastic water bottle and not realize it contains an explosive mixture. They are especially worried a child could pick one up and have it explode in their hands.
In addition to O’Sullivan Road, bottle bombs have been found within the last week on Sherwood Avenue, Homestead Avenue and High Street.
The map shows the general location:
View Derby Bottle Bomb Locations in a larger map
“The potential threat is real. Homemade chemical bottle bombs can be made from commonly available substances. It is believed that these individuals have put household chemicals in plastic bottles and then leave them in front of residences whereby they immediately explode,” police said. “This can cause serious injury due to the build-up of gasses causing an explosion and the distribution of high-temperature boiling fluids including acid.”
The “bottle bombs” contain a fluid and usually a shiny tinfoil-like substance which contributes to the chemical reaction.
“The Derby Police cautions residents to NOT pick up, kick, touch or in any way disturb bottles filled with unknown fluids or objects. Call 911 immediately,” police said in a statement.
Derby Storm Ambulance and Rescue Corps Chief David Lenart said a hazmat team from his organization has been dispatched each time a bottle has exploded. The crews “mitigate” the chemicals with a neutralizing agent.
He also stressed that residents call 911 if they see a suspicious item.
