BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) — A man officials say was part of an unrealized plan to set off a bomb at Musikfest has been charged with involvement in the detonation of at least four other explosive devices around the city, authorities said Tuesday.
Federal and local law enforcement agents searched the Wyandotte Street home of Robert L. Bowen Jr., 53, on Aug. 4 and found bomb-making materials, two modified grenades, drugs including methamphetamine and heroin, and a homemade “zip gun” capable of firing a 12-gauge shotgun round, authorities said.
- Robert Bowen was taken into custody Aug. 4 after a raid at his residence
- He is charged with possessing weapons of mass destruction
- Police have linked him to four explosions in Bethlehem, including one near the Hill-to-Hill bridge
He was charged with possession of weapons of mass destruction and related counts.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday at the Northampton County Government Center before District Judge Robert Weber.
Investigators got a tip that took them to Bowen’s home, where they found and confiscated the items, Northampton County District Attorney Terence Houck said.
Prosecutors said they did not know whether Bowen has an attorney to comment on his behalf, and online case files that could indicate such did not appear to be available Tuesday. He remained in jail Tuesday with bail set at $500,000.
The raid came a day after authorities learned Bowen was “actively involved” in a plan to detonate a bomb at Musikfest, which started Aug. 4, according to court documents. The festival goes for 11 nights and concluded Sunday without incident after drawing record crowds.
“What ultimately his intentions were, because they got him so soon, we’re lucky not to know for sure,” Houck said.
Confidential informants told authorities in early July that Bowen had detonated a bomb under the Hill-to-Hill bridge in Bethlehem, and a second explosion was reported in the 200 block of West Goepp Street later in the month. Bowen allegedly told police he made an M-80 like device and detonated it on Riverside Drive. No injuries were reported in any of the explosions.
Another explosion that occurred in Bowen's neighborhood — he resided in the 700 block of Wyandotte Street — was captured on a resident's doorbell camera. The video showed someone on a motorcycle put something underneath a vehicle before an explosion occurred. The date of the explosion was not released.
According to his unsealed arrest affidavit, Bowen told investigators he was addicted to methamphetamine and learned how to make explosive devices and smoke bombs from YouTube.
Besides possessing weapons of mass destruction, he is charged with having a prohibited offensive weapon; possessing methamphetamine, heroin and psilocybin mushrooms; and possessing drug paraphernalia such as baggies and smoking devices.