URI explosives expert weighs in on pipe bombs sent to high profile democrats

October 25, 2018 5:33 pm

KINGSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — A world renowned explosive expert from URI is weighing in on the recent acts of terrorism after 10 pipe bombs were sent to high profile democrats. The FBI asked her to study different types of pipe bombs to help figure out crimes just like these.

Professor Jimmie Oxley says some of the components of the 10 pipe bombs are unusual and unnecessary. She’s heard one of them was tested and wasn’t powerful. She also believes it’s just a matter of time before authorities figure out who’s behind it.

Suspicious packages sent to high profile liberal democrats have law enforcement scrambling to figure out who is sending them and why.

URI chemistry professor Jimmie Oxley is an expert in explosive devices. Several years ago she tested different types of pipe bombs for the FBI to see what evidence they left behind. She showed ABC 6 News what’s left of the different bombs they tested.

Oxley says the bombs that have been sent to Presidents Clinton and Obama, Vice President Biden Robert DeNiro and others are somewhat out of the ordinary.

“The one picture I’ve seen of the device shows wires coming out of both ends which is very strange for a pipe bomb and even stranger, a timer. You time bombs that you set down and leave behind not ones you send through the mail,” she says.

Oxley says it’s still unclear if the bombs would’ve gone off if the packages were opened but they are likely covered in traceable evidence.

“this whole study we did was worrying about the physical evidence not even the chemical. If it’s something homemade, where did they get the ingredients to make it? Each one of those things is a point to track down,” she says.

Professor Oxley says the big giveaway these packages are suspicious is the excessive number of stamps. She says that’s to avoid going into the post office and being seen on the security cameras.