BETHLEHEM, Pa. - A city man said he planned to build a bomb and detonate it during Musikfest, according to police.
The man, identified by police as Robert “Bob” Bowen, was detained Friday after police with assistance from the FBI and the Bethlehem Fire Department bomb squad served a search warrant at a home in the 700 block of Wyandotte Street where he was staying, police said in a news release.
- Police say the man made statements about building and detonating an explosive at Musikfest
- He was detained after authorities served a search warrant in the 700 block of Wyandotte Street
- Police say there is no ongoing threat to the public
Police said on Thursday they received information that Bowen allegedly made statements regarding his intent to build and detonate an improvised explosive during the music festival, which opened Friday.
The news release did not elaborate on any charges against Bowen, who police say remains in police custody.
“Although this criminal investigation remains active, there is no ongoing threat to the public,” police said. “Additional information will be released at a later time.”
“Although this criminal investigation remains active, there is no ongoing threat to the public.”Bethlehem Police Department statement
Police said their investigation enabled them to link Bowen to several recent incidents of a man detonating “firework-sized devices” in and around Bethlehem, according to the release. They included reported incidents around the 200 block of West Goepp Street, the 700 block of Wyandotte Street and in the area of the Hill-to-Hill Bridge.
The person or persons who told police of the alleged Musikfest bombing plot provided no specific timeframe or location for it, police said.
Shows during the first night of Musikfest on Friday – as well as Thursday’s Preview Night at the SteelStacks campus – went off uninterrupted.
City police thanked a number of other agencies involved in the investigation.
“The Bethlehem Police Department would like to acknowledge the support we received in this investigation from the FBI Allentown office, Allentown Police Department, Lehigh County Municipal Emergency Response Team, Northampton County District Attorney’s Office, and the Bethlehem Fire Department,” the release said.
