"Police seek suspect in Hanover blasts" by Todd Feathers | Globe Correspondent, March 27, 2013
Police are searching for a person who detonated three homemade explosive devices in two Hanover residential areas and apparently left behind several more undetonated explosives.
No one was injured in the blasts, and no property damage was reported, said Police Chief Walter Sweeney. At this point, it does not appear that there was a target for the explosives or any intent to cause harm, he said.
“Essentially, these appear to be homemade devices and not firecrackers,” Sweeney said. “It appears there is someone experimenting with making these devices.”
The explosions were first reported at 8:34 p.m. on March 12 in the area of Pine Street and Tower Hill Drive, according to a statement from the Hanover Fire Department. Witnesses in the area reported a bright flash and two loud explosions, the statement said.
After searching the scene, the State Police bomb squad recovered several unexploded devices, which they later detonated in a secure location, the statement said.
The devices were classified as M-1000 explosives, said Jennifer Mieth, a spokeswoman for the state fire marshal’s office.
M-1000s contain flash powder, a volatile explosive made from various chemicals, said Jeff Groh, assistant special agent in charge of the Boston field office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. “In general, [M-1000s are] just made to make a lot of noise, more so than anything else,” he said, adding that if such a device was held when detonated, it could blow off the person’s hand.
Three days after the March 12 explosions, residents in the nearby Hearthstone Way and Fieldstone Lane area reported another explosion at 7:49 p.m., but no unexploded devices were found.
“Officials are concerned that continued incidents will lead to injury or property damage,” the statement said. “The potential is high for injury to innocent parties who find unexploded devices. The danger is increased by the fact that the recovered explosives appear to be noncommercial devices made by untrained parties.”
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