Indiana Girl Loses Hand in Bomb Blast

Surgeons failed in their attempt today to reattach the left hand of a 5-year-old girl maimed by a pipe bomb at a K mart department store, while investigators sought a group of young men for questioning in the blast.

Erin Bower, who suffered eye damage and lost four fingers and part of her palm when she touched the pressure-sensitive bomb about 7:50 p.m. Monday, was in serious but stable condition at Methodist Hospital today after surgery.

The hand was recovered by paramedics at the store about an hour after the blast, packed in ice and rushed to the hospital. However, doctors said the limb had been separated too long for a successful attempt at reattachment,

The explosion occurred as Erin was walking through the store with her parents and 1-year-old sister.

The bomb, which needed only a slight touch to be set off, was hidden in a box of trash bags and placed on a shelf in the hardware and housewares section of the store. Sheriff’s detective Sgt. Mike Kouns said four or five young men were being sought for questioning. Witnesses said the men left the store right after the explosion and appeared unconcerned about the incident.