Pipe Bomb ‘Ups Ante’ in East Texas Case

DALLAS (AP) _ A federal official says discovery of an apparent pipe bomb in an east Texas mailbox “does up the ante” in an investigation of incendiary devices found in postal facilities in the region.

U.S. Postal Inspector Amanda McMurrey said Wednesday her agency plans to double a reward, to $10,000, after the device was found Tuesday in the town of Laird Hill, about 120 miles east of Dallas.

McMurrey says there was no concern about whether the apparent pipe bomb could have been detonated. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives removed it.

The item was at least the 10th potentially explosive device found in east Texas postal facilities over the past month. The others were described as bottles containing flammable liquids and wicks. None exploded.

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