MAN LOSES FINGERS IN BOMB BLAST

OLIVIER VERGNAULT

11:00am - 06 May 2008

A man suffered extensive injuries to his hand after a home-made bomb went off at his home.

The 47-year-old man was preparing the explosive device, believed to be a small chemical concoction, when it detonated blowing off most of the fingers on his hand.

The man is believed to have wrapped his mangled hand in a towel before dialling 999 for medical help at around 1.30pm on Sunday. Police have ruled out any terrorism link.

Residents from the various flats at the house were evacuated and the immediate area was cordoned off as a safety measure while Royal Navy bomb disposal officers from Plymouth made the area safe.

Controlled explosions were later carried out on two suspect items.

Police cordoned off the area around the property, called The Gables, in St Georges Road, Barnstaple, North Devon and carried out forensic searches.

By 8.30pm bystanders were asked to move back from the cordon as officers were about to carry out a controlled explosion.

The first explosion occurred at 8.37pm and was followed by a second at 9.03pm. Residents were later allowed back into their homes after the bomb squad made the area safe.

The Gables is divided into flats and is near the North Devon Hospice furniture shop.

Residents Nigel Cox and Gavin Massey, who live opposite the house, said they watched the drama unfold throughout the afternoon from an upstairs window.

They said: "We were told to stay indoors because they were going to do a controlled explosion.

"We saw a red box being carried from the building shortly before the explosion was heard."

Police incident commander Inspector Andrew Webber said: "The road was closed off for several hours until the area was declared safe.

"The house will remain sealed off until further extensive searches have been completed and a full police investigation has taken place."

A police spokesman confirmed the man lost most of the fingers on one of his hands and was taken to Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, where his condition was described as stable.

He said the man had been acting on his own and was not linked to any terrorist group.

The spokesman said: "We will interview this man once he is fit to talk to us. At the moment he remains in hospital in a stable condition."

Lynne Paramor, a spokesman for the ambulance service, said paramedics were called to the residential street at 1.38pm on Sunday.

A paramedic who attended the scene said: "The man was very brave. He wrapped a towel around his hand and was able to walk out to the ambulance himself."

The flat is likely to remain sealed off until further extensive searches have been completed.

Url: http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144125&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232762&home=yes&contentPK=20553087

Submitted on 05/06/2008

Submitted by: Dangerous Gary
Reference: This Is Cornwall website, Date 6 May 2008

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Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
He may have been brave, but he was also most definitely stupid, and that's all he needs for an HM. Thanks, Gary!

Chip said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
I would not call that brave. Anyone playing with a pipe bomb is an imbecile (including terrorists). I'd really like to know his reasons for building such a thing. Thanks for the story, Gary.

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