Blending In by Norman Brewer

Author:Norman Brewer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Homegrown Terrorism, Domestic Terrorism
Publisher: Norman Brewer
Published: 2017-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 30

Traffic was moving well as Stickman tuned in an all-news station to monitor still-sketchy reporting on the attack at the Mall of America.

Early reports are that more than two hundred people may be dead and scores more injured, many critically, in today’s bombings of at least six theaters at the iconic mall. The death count is expected to rise significantly. Officials immediately blamed terrorists for the attacks, but did not name a particular group. So far, no terrorist organization has claimed responsibility. Investigators are searching for possible links to an explosion at a house outside Fargo, North Dakota. There, more than a dozen officers were killed as they moved in on a suspected terrorist. Several more officers were critically injured in what was described by the FBI as a raid on the house. At the mall, a man suspected in that attack was shot twice by police or security guards. He is in critical but stable condition at a nearby hospital, and is expected to live.

We caution you that some of the information coming in from the mall and from law enforcement sources is preliminary. We have not, repeat, have not independently confirmed all details. That said, a plastic explosive such as C-4 is believed to have been used. It appears the bombs had been loaded with nails, ball bearings and other metal objects. That metal extended the carnage far beyond the actual blast areas, causing wounds similar to those inflicted by a grenade. Some of the explosions also brought down walls and ceilings, apparently causing electrical fires and immediately turning the theaters into infernos. One official said at least some of the bombs appear to have been under back row seats. They said that when the blasts took out walls, patrons in hallways outside the targeted theaters also were killed or wounded. Because the blasts appeared to be simultaneous or nearly so, officials believe a remote igniting device was used. However, the use of sophisticated timers on individual bombs has not been ruled out. Given the massive impact of the blasts, the perpetrators are believed to have used several pounds of explosive. The possibility remains that several suicide bombers carried out the attack. But, the wounding of a suspect before the explosions, in a retail area well away from the theaters, does not support that scenario, one official said.

First responders and witnesses are describing scenes of unimaginable horror as survivors attempt to crawl through bodies and wreckage. Many victims suffered terrible wounds from the metal objects loaded into the bombs as well as from flying debris or fire. A couple using wheelchairs, celebrating their sixty-fifth wedding anniversary, was among those killed. Also dead is a four-year-old going to see her first movie, a Disney film.

It’s now been more than an hour since the terrorist attack. Sources tell us every officer who can be summoned, has been. Some are helping deal with the absolute chaos at the mall, one of the nation’s most popular shopping and recreation venues. Federal agents, including those of the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, have been called in.

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