FBI: Stolen Fertilizer Isn’t Bomb Material
The theft of 7,500 pounds of fertilizer containing ammonium nitrate from a Huntington Beach nursery sparked an investigation by FBI officials, who concluded it wasn’t the explosive form of the chemical used in the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.
“It’s highly unlikely that it could be used in the manufacturing of explosives,” said Cathy Viray, spokeswoman for the FBI.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. July 17, 2005 For The Record
Los Angeles Times Sunday July 17, 2005 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 2 inches; 77 words Type of Material: Correction
Stolen fertilizer -- An article in Saturday’s California section about 7,500 pounds of fertilizer stolen from a Huntington Beach nursery gave the impression the FBI believed that the material contained ammonium nitrate. In fact, the FBI said the fertilizer could not be used to make a bomb but did not detail its chemical properties. A nursery employee said the fertilizer contained ammonium nitrate, but that information could not be verified independently by experts or law enforcement sources.
She said FBI officials began investigating Thursday after employees at Village Nurseries on Garfield Avenue reported that nearly 4 tons of ammonium nitrate was stolen from the 60-acre nursery. The fertilizer typically is used as a nutrient for plants.
Employees arrived at work Thursday to find a 6-foot hole in the wire fencing and tire marks leading to empty palettes, said Terri Cook, a nursery executive.
Police said the thieves broke into the nursery between Wednesday night and Thursday morning and took 150 50-pound bags valued at $4,000.
Huntington Beach officials called the FBI, worried that the ammonium nitrate could be used as an explosive. Police said 4,800 pounds of a different form of the ingredient was used in the Oklahoma bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, in which 168 people were killed.
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