Suspicious devices found on power lines in Massachusetts

[CZroe]

Perhaps the figured out a way to detonate them remotely, like a microwave beam or one of those arcing cascade things that zip down the lines arcing between wires. I think Rubycon said that vandals were triggering them deliberately in Russia or something.

 

[Moonbeam]

From last night's news they seemed to be on the high power lines not the residential type.

I know, but the first thing you would need to know if you were planning to cut power lines up with a bomb is whether you have a way to get one up on the lines in the first place. All the tennis shoes hanging from my neighborhood lines would suggest an idea to test. I wouldn't want to do a live bomb test.

 

[Humpy]

The news report paraphrased the FBI as saying the cutting device was "manually" activated. I pictured pulling a piece of tape off the switch with kite string from the ground and then running away. It's of course smart for them not to say a whole lot about the what, why, and how.

 

[Humpy]

I know, but the first thing you would need to know if you were planning to cut power lines up with a bomb is whether you have a way to get one up on the lines in the first place. All the tennis shoes hanging from my neighborhood lines would suggest an idea to test. I wouldn't want to do a live bomb test.

Not a bomb, a cutting torch. Easy to make and test in the back yard.

 

[master_shake_]

http://www.evileyebrow.com/2007/03/01/more-suspicious-devices-in-boston/

maybe a traffic counter got lost?

 

[Jeff7]

Devices that authorities say looked like pipe bombs but were not explosive...

So....pipes

The later part is what caught my eye:

Shaw says multiple incendiary devices "similar in structure to pipe bombs" were found on the lines.
The FBI said Thursday the devices didn't have the components necessary to cause an explosion.

"Incendiary devices" without incendiaries.

So.....devices.


Nunchucks?
Viral marketing campaign for a new TMNT movie. :awe:

 

[Moonbeam]

Not a bomb, a cutting torch. Easy to make and test in the back yard.

We'll forgive me then. I don't spend a lot of time on these things since I like my power on.

 

[Moonbeam]

http://www.evileyebrow.com/2007/03/01/more-suspicious-devices-in-boston/

maybe a traffic counter got lost?

Looks like the liberal brain defect in hyperdrive to me.

 

[Humpy]

We'll forgive me then. I don't spend a lot of time on these things since I like my power on.

Forgiven.

It would have helped if the article linked in the OP wasn't the usual garbage news paragraph.

Cliffs: Someone tried to cut power lines with homemade thermite (or similar) cutting torches. Because they are idiots, they failed and only managed to start a brush fire.

 

[Darwin333]

Oh, those are just remotely operable thermite fueled cable cutters that the White House had installed in case a national emergency requires power be cut for our safety. One must have simply malfunctioned.

AKA, a TEC Torch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhTiv5JGtD0

Wow, that is cool as shit! I need a dozen or so.

 

[Darwin333]

Jesus, do I laugh or cry?

Whichever you prefer my son.

-Jesus

 

[Darwin333]

Forgiven.

It would have helped if the article linked in the OP wasn't the usual garbage news paragraph.

Cliffs: Someone tried to cut power lines with homemade thermite (or similar) cutting torches. Because they are idiots, they failed and only managed to start a brush fire.

Wouldn't it be way easier just to blow up/knock down one or two of the towers holding the lines up? I'm still really curious how they got them up there and if they had to be manually ignited how they planned on doing that.

 

[Humpy]

Wouldn't it be way easier just to blow up/knock down one or two of the towers holding the lines up? I'm still really curious how they got them up there and if they had to be manually ignited how they planned on doing that.

The towers are far more robust than the cable itself.

There is a pretty substantial interest in playing with thermite, Tannerite, etc. as a hobby, so I'm guessing the goal here was not simply to disrupt electrical power, but to disrupt power in a fun and interesting way.