Suspicious suitcase blown up at Burien Park and Ride

pamby said on February 1, 2010 at 3:33 PM

It's freaking Burien! Burien is Not a terrorist target! Geez.

mirage said on February 1, 2010 at 3:24 PM

As one who spent time in the UK during the period of IRA bombings, let me tell you - this is exactly the sort of thing that would kill people and did. Add a few nails in there (a fave of theirs) and everyone around would get injured even if they were far enough away from the bomb. I agree better to blow it up than pay the price. It could have been on remote and the person could just wait to blown it up when the dog and police officer get close. People just need to learn, that as much trouble as it may be, you have to bring your stuff with you.

dede1978 said on February 1, 2010 at 12:19 PM

tbirdjim, thanks I was thinking the same thing. Better to blow it up with no injuries than take the chance that it's a real bomb. Or maybe those who think it was foolish can volunteer to check out the next suspicious package..... Put their empty brain cells to good use.

graham said on February 1, 2010 at 12:01 PM

Bomb squad's love blowing thigs up, the boys & there toys they should have used 20lbs of c4 to blow it up more bang for the buck

tbirdjim said on February 1, 2010 at 10:44 AM

OK guys....for all those who don't think this suitcase should have been blown up: I expect to you all to volunteer to personally check out all future suspicious packages and luggage left in public spaces.. That way, no police officers or their bomb-sniffing dogs will get blown up when one turns out to a bomb. Please: it is only 10:45 AM; trying to do something useful with the rest of your day!

jinxedagain said on February 1, 2010 at 10:26 AM

wouldn't an explosive sniffing dog have been cheaper? They could have borrowed one from the airport. THey are not using them there. I wonder how much this cost us tax payers....

mountdana said on February 1, 2010 at 9:44 AM

Seriously? The only way to handle a "suspicious package" is to blow it up? Of the, say, two dozen similar reports I’ve heard of over the past five years, not one time has the package actually been dangerous. This means the police are using dangerous explosives to blow up clothing. THAT sounds safe. It doesn’t take a lot of effort to come up with alternatives, like sniffer dogs or machines, portable projection, backscatter or stereoscopic x-ray, robots to “disassemble” the object, and so forth.

rentechd said on February 1, 2010 at 8:54 AM

I have heard of many suspicious packages blown up that did contain bombs or other dangerous materials. Given the choice I would rather see a suitcase full of clothing blown up then ignore the suitcase or try removing it or opening it and putting lives in danger. I am sure that had it been the otherway around and a law enforcement or civilian was injured by a bomb the comments here would be why the bomb squad robot was not used to detonate it first to make sure that no one was hurt. Even a homeless person can replace clothing, no one can replace body parts or a life.

somedude said on February 1, 2010 at 8:24 AM

I'd agree, seems they like playing with their toys. "...According to the county dispatch supervisor, the bomb squad "blew it up" a few times, although she couldn't say why."

mrscott said on February 1, 2010 at 7:51 AM

Silly. Some poor homeless fool probably left it there, thinking it would be safe in plain sight, and now has no clothes to wear on job interviews. Of all the "suspicious packages" I have heard of law enforcement detonating, I don't recall any ever being real bombs. The boys in blue love playing with their toys, don't they?