Military

ATF and Philadelphia Police Responded to a Van With Possible Explosives and Arson Supplies

October 29, 2020Joshua Skovlund
philadelphia

Police established a perimeter around the suspicious van. Photo courtesy of Dann Cuellar/Twitter.

Investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Arson and Explosives Task Force responded along with the Philadelphia Police Department to a suspicious van with possible explosive devices inside, according to ATF Special Agent Robert Cucinotta. 


The van was located off of Logan Circle in the Center City neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Center City is the site of such historical icons as the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed. 


Due to the ongoing investigation, the ATF declined to speak further on the incident. 


philadelphia
Police evaluating the van and its contents. Screenshot from YouTube.

The van was found on the first night of a citywide curfew lasting from 9 p.m. on Wednesday to 6 a.m. Thursday. The curfew was set in response to the widespread civil unrest in the city since the police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr. on Monday. 


According to ABC7 News, police officers reportedly recovered propane tanks, torches, and possible sticks of dynamite from the van.


Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said during a press conference on Wednesday that further information on the incident will be released after Wallace’s family has been able to see all the available evidence. 


philadelphia
A close-up of some of the contents within the van. Screenshot from YouTube.

Outlaw also said during the press conference that “the widespread lawlessness” has nothing to do with protesting and that “this behavior is not acceptable” and will not be tolerated. 


Throughout Wednesday, Philadelphia police arrested 81 people on various charges such as burglary, assaulting a police officer, or arson. Outlaw said there were 297 reported incidents of looting and nine reports of damaged or destroyed vehicles. 


During the violence on Tuesday night, 23 officers were injured by thrown projectiles like rocks and bricks. Outlaw said that all of the officers have been treated and released from the hospital. She noted that several officers had a bloodlike substance thrown on them. 


The Philadelphia Police Department did not respond to requests for more information at the time of publication. 



Joshua Skovlund
Joshua Skovlund

Joshua Skovlund is a former staff writer for Coffee or Die. He covered the 75th anniversary of D-Day in France, multinational military exercises in Germany, and civil unrest during the 2020 riots in Minneapolis. Born and raised in small-town South Dakota, he grew up playing football and soccer before serving as a forward observer in the US Army. After leaving the service, he worked as a personal trainer while earning his paramedic license. After five years as in paramedicine, he transitioned to a career in multimedia journalism. Joshua is married with two children.

More from Coffee or Die Magazine
dear jack mandaville
Dear Jack: Which Historic Battle Would You Want To Witness?

Ever wonder how much Jack Mandaville would f*ck sh*t up if he went back in time? The American Revolution didn't even see him coming.

west point time capsule
West Point Time Capsule Yields Centuries-Old Coins

A nearly 200-year-old West Point time capsule that at first appeared to yield little more than dust contains hidden treasure, the US Military Academy said.

Ouija Board aircraft carrier
Low-Tech ‘Ouija Boards’ Have Helped Aircraft Carriers Operate for Decades

Since the 1920s, a low-tech tabletop replica of an aircraft carrier’s flight deck has been an essential tool in coordinating air operations.

Army vs. Navy mascot
The Navy Goat vs. the Army Mule: Mascot Origin Stories

For nearly as long as the Army-Navy football rivalry, the academies’ hoofed mascots have stared each other down from the sidelines. Here are their stories.

ukraine long-range weapon
Zelenskyy Says Ukraine Has Developed a Long-Range Weapon, a Day After Strike Deep Inside Russia

Zelenskyy said on his Telegram channel the weapon was produced by Ukraine’s Ministry of Strategic Industries but gave no other details.

ambush
7 of the Best Movie Ambush Scenes of All Time

Ambushes make for great action scenes. Here are seven of the best to ever grace the big screen.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, with his daughter, center right, reportedly named Ju Ae, review the honor guard during their visit to the navy headquarter in North Korea
North Korea Launches Missile Toward Sea After US Flies Bomber During Drills

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the launch occurred Wednesday but gave no further details, such as how far the missile flew.

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Careers
Contact Us
Contact Us
© 2023 Coffee or Die Magazine. All Rights Reserved