Bomb squad detonates explosive device in Eden Valley

(Note: Kristin Holtz, a staff writer at the Litchfield Independent Review, contributed to this report.)

The Meeker County Sheriff's Office called the Minneapolis Bomb Squad to the Eden Valley City Hall Tuesday morning (May 6) after a man brought an explosive device into the building.

At 9:34 a.m., the sheriff's office received a report from Eden Valley Police that a man found an explosive device while cleaning out a storage shed. He brought it to the City Hall-Police Department building, which was then evacuated.

The Minneapolis Bomb Squad arrived on the scene two hours later to remove, secure and disable the bomb at a remote location. There were no injuries or damage, Sheriff Mike Hirman said.

No other businesses or homes were evacuated, Hirman said. “Talking to the bomb squad, there was no danger of this device if it exploded to go much farther beyond the walls it was in," he said.
Hirman said a landlord had found the device, which resembled a pipe bomb, while cleaning out a storage area of a rental property. The sheriff's office will submit materials collected from the device to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for testing. An investigation is ongoing.

It is not known if the previous tenant had left the device in the storage shed. “We’re speaking to people of interest right now regarding that,” Hirman said.

He added anyone who finds a suspected explosive device should notify law enforcement and not touch or try to remove it. “Don’t carry it into any business of any kind,” he said.

Assisting on the scene were the Eden Valley Police Department, Eden Valley Fire Department and Rescue Squad, Watkins Rescue/Ambulance, Watkins Police Department and the bomb squad.

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com)