Fertilizer Theft Sparks Scare

 

The sale of explosive-grade ammonium nitrate is restricted. The potent fertilizer is marked by special symbols on the bags.

Federal agents joined the search for a thief who took a large volume of ammonium nitrate from a nursery in Huntington Beach, Calif. in mid-July.

Ammonium nitrate is used to make fertilizer but can also be used to make very powerful explosives?EUR??,,????'??+as in the case of the Oklahoma City bombing. Authorities later said that fertilizer stolen in July was not the type that can be used to make explosives, but officials are taking a cautious approach.

The FBI released a statement on July 14.

?EUR??,,????'??This fertilizer cannot be used in the manufacture of explosives. This case is under investigation by the Orange County Joint Terrorism Task Force.?EUR??,,????'??

The thief broke into Village Nursery sometime between Wednesday night and Thursday morning and left with around 7,500 lbs. of fertilizer. Authorities found a hole in a fence around the storage area at Village Nurseries.

An investigation into the theft is ongoing, but ?EUR??,,????'??we have determined that it is not explosive grade fertilizer,?EUR??,,????'?? said the FBI?EUR??,,????'???s Laura Eimiller.

Fifty bags of a slow-release top dressing and 100 bags of nitroform were stolen. Although both items contain ammonium nitrate, FBI officials said the bags do not contain enough to make an explosive device.