BOMB EXPLOSION

Northern Advocate, 29 October 1932, Page 9

BOMB EXPLOSION

POLICE STATION INCIDENT NO DAMAGE OBSERVABLE. ANOTHER WEST COAST CASE. (Per Press Association.—Copyright.) - GREYMOUTH, This Day. Coincident with the announcement yesterday of a reward of £2OO in connection with the recent bomb explosion at the residence of Police-Inspector Lopdell, there was an explosion in the vicinity of the Police Station about 9.5 last evening. The loud report was heard over a considerable area, but no indication was subsequently obtainable of the exact spot where the explosion occurred. The smell of explosives was noticed in the vicinity of the station, the windows of which w T ere shaken, but no sign of damage was discernible. Presumably, the explosive went off in the air before landing. It must have been within 20 yards of the building. Although it is believed that three

plugs of dynamite constituted the explosive, the police are mystified at the absence of any sign of damage. After the explosion some smoke was noticed by a passerby at the rear of the Police Station. Inspector Lopdell was not at the station at the time, but Senior-Sergeant Roach was on duty He stated that the windows rattled loudly. The explosion was heard many blocks away. The evident object was to damage the station, according to die opinion of the,police, although the distance from the station to the house of Sergeant D. M. Murray is less than 100 yards, a cleared section lies between the two.

The station is located in the vicinity of the wharf area, which is quiet at night.

The detective and constables conducted a search all over the adjacent grounds, and the absence of any vestige of effect prompted the conclusion that the explosive wont off before striking anything. The night was exceptionally dark, with steady rain. Nobody reported seeing any flash at the time of the explosion.