Device Found Near Muskogee Jewish Temple Could Have Exploded

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) A suspicious device found outside a Jewish temple last weekend was capable of exploding, the FBI said Thursday. The device, which was found in a shopping cart outside Temple Beth

Thursday, March 29th 2007, 2:01 pm

By: News On 6

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) A suspicious device found outside a Jewish temple last weekend was capable of exploding, the FBI said Thursday. The device, which was found in a shopping cart outside Temple Beth Ahaba, was rendered harmless and sent to an FBI laboratory in Quantico, Va. Authorities have been unable to determine a motive behind the incident.

The synagogue was vandalized with a Nazi symbol last year.

FBI spokesman Gary Johnson said the agency was not releasing information on the nature of the explosive device. He said no arrests have been made and no suspect has been identified.

Police Officer Brad Holt said after the incident that the device was determined to be cooking oil with a timing device attached.

A man found the device in a shopping cart near the temple after 7 p.m. Saturday, March 24th, and took it to the Muskogee Fire Department a few blocks away.

Muskogee police evacuated several buildings and homes in a five-block area near the temple. Residents were allowed to return to the area a few hours later.

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