Broome County D.A. Issues Plastic Bottle Bomb Warning [VIDEO]

Eric M. Kelly, an investigator in the Broome County District Attorney’s office, sent an e-mail to local schools detailing a new trend among teenagers: Leaving homemade plastic bottle bombs on lawns.

In the e-mail obtained by radio staff, Kelly writes:

…Kids are putting (mixture details removed) in plastic drink bottles and capping it up – leaving it on lawns, in mail boxes, in gardens, on driveways etc. just waiting for you to pick it up intending to put it in the rubbish, but you’ll never make it!

Shaking the bottle initiates the reaction and it explodes within 30 seconds. This explosion (shown below) could result in loss of fingers, extremities and severe chemical burns. It is unlikely to harm buildings or cause material damage to homes.

Snopes.com, a debunking website, declares the threat true and suggests you report suspicious bottles to police. If you find a bottle on your lawn with liquid or other materials in it, please call the proper authorities.