Man charged in Colorado mall bomb attempt

[News_Editor]

Man charged in Colorado mall bomb attempt

2011-04-28 00:42:25 GMT+7 (ICT)

DENVER (BNO NEWS) -- A 65-year-old man was charged with arson on Wednesday for allegedly planting an explosive device at the Southwest Plaza Mall in Colorado.

Earl Albert Moore, of Denver, was arrested on early Tuesday morning by Boulder Police Officers following a tip from a grocery store employee. It followed a nationwide manhunt led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

According to the affidavit in support of the arrest warrant, Moore entered the Southwest Plaza Mall on April 20 using an employee only entrance. He then allegedly placed an explosive device inside an employee corridor at the mall, after which he exited the facility.

As Moore was departing the building, the device did not detonate although a small fire ignited which was later put out by a security officer using a fire extinguisher. There were no injuries.

Moore was charged on Wednesday with one count of maliciously damaging and destroying, and attempting to damage and destroy, by means of fire and an explosive, a building and other real and personal property used in interstate or foreign commerce.

If convicted, Moore faces not less than 5 years, and not more than 20 years in federal prison, as well as a $250,000 fine. He will appear in U.S. District Court in Denver at 2 p.m. local time on Wednesday, where he will be advised of the charges pending against him.

No information has been released about Moore's motive for the attempted bombing, but it happened on the 12th anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre that left 15 people killed and 24 others injured. The mall is only two blocks away from Columbine.

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