Cache of military explosives found in suburban Chicago field

[xray s]

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/031204_ns_explosivesfound.html

Military-style explosives found in Lake County

By Paul Meincke
March 12, 2004 — A stash of explosives were found in Lake County. The military-grade devices include a type of plastic explosive that is capable of significant damage. Authorities will not say exactly where they found the explosives and they don't know where they came from or who left them behind.

Two men were walking in a farm field in the northeastern section of Lake County Friday looking for deer antler when they came across this collection of explosives.

The explosives were found underneath a section of green-colored canvas out in a Lake County farm field. Eight illumination flares, a small number of booby trap flashes, blasting caps and, the most dangerous, four pounds of C-4 explosives -- some in customary blocks and the rest in customary pieces. C-4 is military made and can pack a real wallop.
****(snip)
"Recently we saw what has occurred overseas in Spain. We simply do not know at this point what the intent might be. That's why we're working the case with the level of staffing that we've allocated to this case to make those kinds of determinations. We were very concerned about what we've uncovered," said Sheriff Gary Del Re.

Some of the explosives devices appear to be pretty old. They're being checked for fingerprints. The FBI is also assisting in the case.

[kalian]

1. Why do I get the feeling....

that we're being setup...?
You know, for MARTIAL LAW?

[RC]

3. Because we are?

[Jax]

2. So THAT'S where Saddam

moved his weapons of mass destruction!

Time to invade Illinois! <sarcasm off>

Jax

[juajen]

4. Me thinks we are building up the "fear factor" for the election

Gotta expect the expected.

Bin Laden Captured

Red Alert

Explosives everywhere

[metisnation]

7. PRIMARY IN ILLINOIS IN TWO DAYS

OMG this is obvious fear mongering...this is sick.

[burrowowl]

5. Since they are

pretty old, the military could have put them there and forgot about it.

[xray s]

6. I doubt the military put them in a farm field and left them

The only military base anywhere near Lake County is Great Lakes Naval. I don't think they run around the countryside with explosives.

I don't know what to make of this story. I don't know how easy it is to get your hands on C-4.

[burrowowl]

8. Hell

bombing practice in ABQ during WWII has unexploded bombs all over the west side and there is lots of development there now.
Kirkland AFB and Sandia Labs have lots of stuff from WWII that drips into the water table.
C-4 has been around for awhile. Could be more recent, but as I say the military could have lost it or some GIs wanted to do a bank job.

[xray s]

9. But this was found in a farm field

It would have been plowed up last fall. Seems to me it would have to of been left there in the last 5 or 6 months.

Maybe by some local boys who like to make thinks go boom? :shrug:

[burrowowl]

10. Could be anybody

but old is older than 5 or 6 months. How much uphevel in your area?

[xray s]

11. Quite a bit

We have had some real swings in temps lately. Could explain it.

[DBoon]

12. Isn't Lake County in Indiana

Whiting, Hammond, etc.

Croatian terrorists in this area?

[Robbien]

13. Yep, there is one in Indiana also

Northwestern Indiana is called Lake County and the area north of suburban Chicago is called Lake County.

[Chicago Democrat]

15. Lake County IL

is known recently for skinheads.

[Chicago Democrat]

14. Lake County Right Wing Republican Paramilitary Organizations

They exist they are real. They believe in crazy paranoid bullshit.

[SaintLouisBlues]

16. Illinois Nazis

I Hate Illinois Nazis!

[T Bone]

17. Time to get Jake and Elwood Blues on the case

They took care of those nazis in the movie.

[Rich Hunt]

18. yes

That was my first thought.

[yltlatl]

19. So Many Possibilities

There are just so many parties with an interest in terror (which includes the fear of violence) aren't there?

I'd say it's pretty easy to get your hands on C4 considering it's apparently not very hard to get your hands on anthrax from Army labs.

It shouldn't be overlooked that not every whacko right-wing organization is necessarily just a whacko right-wing organization:

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/mar2004/mcv-m08.shtml

"The AP revealed that the Justice Department withheld evidence at McVeigh’s 1997 trial, including documents showing that the Aryan Republican Army bank robbers possessed explosive blasting caps similar to those stolen by McVeigh, as well as a driver’s license bearing the name of a man robbed to help fund the Oklahoma bombing plot. The evidence was never shared with Oklahoma City investigators or McVeigh’s defense attorneys. The government’s official version of the bombing asserted that only two individuals were involved, McVeigh and a former army buddy, Terry Nichols."