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Starbucks 'bomb' was only a flashlightCNNJan. 14, 2006 |
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 Ohh so you mean the "explosive" you claimed to have "diffused" was actually a flashlight... How bout that... S.F. Police Defuse Explosive at Starbucks SAN FRANCISCO -- About 100 people were evacuated from a busy, four-block area after an employee found a homemade bomb in the bathroom of a Starbucks. No one was injured. The device, which was found around 1:15 p.m. Monday, was disabled an hour later. Residents were allowed back into the building and police reopened the street around the store. "This was a good device. If it had exploded, it would have caused injuries or damage," said Sgt. Neville Gittens. He would not disclose the size or type of device found, or its potential explosive capacity. But, he added, "we have some very active leads that we're following up." The coffee store remained closed Monday evening while authorities investigated. Gittens said no one phoned in a bomb threat or took responsibility for the device. Seattle-based Starbucks declined to provide further details. In 2003, police said the windows of 17 Starbucks stores were clouded with glue and some of the door locks were jammed. Vandals also posted phony notices purporting to be from Starbucks management announcing the company's intention to abandon some of their San Francisco stores to make room for more locally owned coffee houses.SAN FRANCISCO, California (AP) -- What authorities thought was a bomb in a Starbucks coffee shop turned out to be a flashlight casing, police said Thursday. A forensic analysis "revealed the absence of any explosive material," a police statement said. Police initially said the device found in the store's bathroom Monday was powerful enough to seriously injure or kill someone if it had exploded. Police evacuated about 100 people from the Starbucks and apartments above it. A man arrested on suspicion of planting an explosive device, Ronald Schouten, was still being held Thursday on an unrelated burglary charge. But police said his explanation on how the flashlight ended up in the coffee shop was credible. Schouten, 44, told KPIX-TV that he found the flashlight in the street and accidentally dropped it in the bathroom. "I love that Starbucks," Schouten said in an interview with the station. "The people are saints. They know I'm homeless. They let me drink coffee for 50 cents. I love those people." The station reported that the flashlight was filled with corroded batteries. |
