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John Hollenhorst reportingCAPT. FITZGERALD PETERSEN, SALT LAKE COUNTY FIRE DEPT.: "THEY COULD HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATING."
A strange incident involving four pipe bombs is under investigation in Salt Lake County. The bombs were placed in a car, and authorities don't know why.
The incident forced the closure of 13th East at 33rd South for several hours tonight. Authorities have launched a major investigation.
13th East was blocked off most of the evening as they investigated this bizarre incident. The bombs were found in a green Saturn parked right in front of this apartment building. Explosive experts made them safe by putting them in buckets and blowing out the explosive material.
Three of the bombs were still dangerous when they were discovered. A fourth bomb apparently burned up long before. Earlier this evening, the owner of the green Saturn came out to get into his car and found the interior partially burned. He called police who found one burned bomb and three others inside the car. The owner told investigators he had not been in the car since Monday.
Capt. Fitzgerald Petersen, Salt Lake County Fire Dept.:"SO THE FIRE WASN'T RECENT AND THE DEVICE WHAT IT DID BURN PUT ITSELF OUT IT PROBABLY DEPRIVED ITSELF OF OXYGEN..AND IT KEPT THE VEHICLE FROM BECOMING FULLY INVOLVED WHICH COULD HAVE ENGAGED THE OTHER DEVICES."
The car has been impounded and authorities say they'll examine every nook and cranny for evidence. They say felony charges are likely if they can ever figure out who did this.
