A bomb exploded Friday at a West Coast Bank branch office in Woodburn, Oregon killing a police officer and bomb disposal technician. There are no detained suspects as of yet.
At a nearby Wells Fargo branch bank a suspicious device was also found but that one proven to be harmless. The investigation there led the police to the
West Coast Bank where the bomb was found.
Police are not disclosing any possible motives for the bombing. Oregon State Police Lt. Gregg Hastings says that the police consider the bomber dangerous and they hope to find him as soon as possible.
The bomb was discovered by an employee outside of the building in the bushes. Officers took the bomb into the building. Hasting is not sure why the officers moved the bomb indoors. Once inside the building the bomb exploded. The inside of the bank was extensively damaged.
Woodburn police Capt. Tom Tennant and state Senior Trooper William Hakim both were killed in the blast. Woodburn Police Chief Scott Russell, 46, is at a Portland hospital in stable but critical condition. One female bank employee was treated at hospital but later released.
The bank remains closed Saturday.
Federal authorities are offering a $35,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case.
