NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 717.255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
16 June 2004

TWO HOMEMADE EXPLOSIVES AND MATERIALS SIEZED

Harrisburg, PA—Mayor Stephen R. Reed today reported that city police have seized two homemade explosive devices, during an early morning search at 902 N. Third Street, located several hundred yards from the Main Capitol Building.

Police were called by emergency medical staff, who were answering an ambulance call in one of the apartments at that address, when they noted two suspicious objects in the patient’s quarters.

Found and verified as explosive devices were two cardboard tubes with cannon fuses, with nails inserted into the outer casings. The explosive charges inside were more than sufficient to propel the nails at persons and anything else nearby if detonated.

Both devices were on a work table on the west side of the apartment. Found on the same table were additional cannon fuses and a can of black powder, indicating that additional devices were likely planned.

One of the city’s bomb-sniffing canines was used to search the rest of the apartment and the entire building. No other materials were found. The building was evacuated of other residents immediately after police arrived.

Reed said the police were first called at 2:49 a.m. today about the suspicions of the ambulance crew. The city called in city fire crews as a precaution. The Penn State Hazardous Device Disposal Unit was summoned and removed the items, which will be destroyed.

The patient, who is the sole occupant of the apartment, was taken to a local hospital for a medical problem and was awaiting placement in the intensive care unit this afternoon. His medical problem is unrelated to the explosive devices or materials.

He is identified as 47-year old Marlin Fry. When released from medical care, he will be placed into city police custody and charged with three criminal counts—Recklessly Endangering, Risking Catastrophe and Unlawful Possession and Manufacture of a Weapon of Mass Destruction.

The case has been reported to federal authorities, who may also become involved due to the more stringent federal laws since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the United States.

Reed said the explosive devices have no commercial or other legitimate purpose and, based upon how they were constructed, with nails protruding on the exterior, they would only serve one purpose—to harm or threaten others.

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