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.
I question the judgement of the Valley Ind. by publishing the YouTube videos of the devices exploding that includes links to other videos of similarly dangerous events. The chain of links even had a video that claimed to detail how to make Napalm. The misguided people, usually children, who would try these things, do not need any more help discovering how to potentially injure themselves or others.
The kids have already seen the videos.
I agree with Mr. Phipps and I too question the Valley Indy on why you would post a video that shows how to make these. Yes, I know kids can visit “u-tube” or “google” it but if you are trying to warn the public to be alert, attaching this video isn’t very smart; this could potentially cause more incidents in other towns and cities. I believe you should take the video down.
The video does not show how to make it.
If we’re going to publish the word “bomb,” then we should show people what they’re dealing with.
Specifically, as a parent of a two-year-old son in Derby, I wanted to know just what the heck I’m dealing with.
By the time something like this makes it to news outlets, it is already common knowledge — news outlets, like parents, are the last to know.
Parents, check your Drano stock and talk to your kids.