Troopers Respond To Two Bomb Threats Within An Hour

Locations: 

 

Location #1: Rite Aid Pharmacy, 2034 New Castle Avenue, New Castle, DE

Location #2: Emily P. Bissell Hospital, 3000 Newport Gap Pike, Wilmington, DE

 

Date of Occurrence:   Monday, November 01, 2010 at 2:50 p.m. and 3:45 p.m.

 

Suspect:   Unknown male

 

Resume:   The Delaware State Police are investigating bomb threats that were called in to two separate locations this afternoon.

 

The first incident occurred at approximately 2:50 p.m. as an unknown male suspect called the Rite Aid Pharmacy located at 2034 New Castle Avenue and spoke to the pharmacist. The male caller advised the pharmacist that he had placed a bomb inside of the store, inside each of the store’s employee’s cars, and inside each of the store’s employee’s homes. The pharmacist then transferred the caller to the store manager. The caller then told the manager that he would not detonate the bombs that he has placed as long as he got the manager’s cooperation. The suspect, however, never made any demands. It was at this point that the manager called 9-1-1 and evacuated the building. Two Delaware State Police canines specifically trained in bomb detection and their handlers responded to the scene and conducted a search of both the interior and exterior of the store. No devices were located and the store was re-opened for business.

 

At 3:45 p.m. troopers responded to the Emily P. Bissell Hospital located at 3000 Newport Gap Pike, in Wilmington in reference to a bomb threat called in at that location. The responding troopers were advised that an unknown male suspect had called into the hospital kitchen and advised the call taker that he was going to respond to the hospital in fifteen minutes with a bomb. The call taker, an employee of the hospital, then notified hospital security who in turn contacted 9-1-1. A state police bomb trained canine and his handler then responded to the hospital and conducted a search of the exterior. No device was located. The hospital was not evacuated and no suspect arrived.

 

These incidents are both still under investigation. It is not known if the same suspect placed both calls to the Rite Aid and the hospital.

 

If anyone has any information in reference to either of these incidents, they are asked to contact State Police at either 302-834-2620 or 302-633-5000. They may also contact Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333. Tips may also be submitted online at http://www.tipsubmit.com/.