Bomb in Shipping Container

September 28, 2003

Last night was the most terrified I have ever been at work. It was actually the first time I thought I might not make it home.

A cargo container came in the yard and as the Hostlers were transferring it onto the rail car from the container chassis, they checked the seal number on the lock.

It came up bad and I was called in to make an investigation. first I went to the front gate and did the usual background work to find out who it was (comapny/driver) that brought in the unit.

Muhammad Al-Salam Sheik whatever was his name. I can't put it here, but it was about as cliche as a Muslim name gets. I also check who it was that originally put his name into the computer. Turns out it wasn't the normal person who puts in 99.9% of the drivers information into our database. So I ran a check on the employee who input his information. it was another guy who was hired as a contractor and fired within 5 days of his employment here. The only thing we have in records that he did on out computers was input this guys information. This contractor's name was Muslim as well.

So I checked the shipper of the container who was sending this stuff on the rail. This was the first time the shipper had ever shipped a unit through us.

So already within 10 minutes I have 4-5 red flags flying up.

I went out to the unit on the railcar, broke the seal, and cut the bolt. As I lifted the levers to open the door, I see wires just inside.

I froze. I almost crapped my pants, and Immediatly radioed to have the track and storage areas evacuated.

I shut the container and called SPD to get a bomb squad out here ASAP.

Within 15 minutes the head bomb squad man came out. He spent about 5 minutes with the door slightly open taking a look at the wires and shut the door.

He came back and said we needed Ft Lewis EOD to get the hell up here, as he wasn't familliar with the setup.

45 minutes and EOD was there. They spent the next 3 hours on the railcar messing with the unit. They ended up having to cut into the unit with a torch on the side and enter that way. they finally disabled the unit and took it apart.

Talked to the EOD guy afterwards, he explained that I should have set it off when I opened the door, but I was lucky the switch was given so much slack.

FBI has taken over the investigation.

Needless to say, that was the closest to a bomb I ever want to be in my life. Came home this morning and spent a few good hours with my family. Never told my wife what happened (no need to worry her).

I get to go back in 5 minutes and do it all over again.

http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=79004