JERSEY CITY MEDICAL CENTER
'Bomb' remains have cops scratching heads

Tuesday, September 22, 2009
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Bomb technicians say the device carried into the lobby of the Jersey City Medical Center by a Fort Lee man Sunday afternoon appeared to be some kind of incendiary device, but it was not clear how it could have been detonated.

After using a water cannon to shatter the device carried in a backpack by Bradford Phieffer, 29, police said they found two automotive speakers, a plastic bottle cap with a hole drilled through it, and a plastic bag, reports said. All of the items had a strong odor of a flammable liquid, reports said.

"It appeared the actor had tried to make an incendiary device, however, the (technician) could not determine the method that would be used to detonate the device," reports said.

Phieffer was tackled in the hospital lobby by a security officer after he began talking about a bomb, reports said, adding he has a long history of mental problems.

Phieffer told police he had diffused the bomb and was looking for a place to get rid of it, reports said.

He also said he was working for the CIA, was found in possession of suspected methamphetamine, and he told police the drug was given to him by his CIA handler, reports said.

During the incident, which began at about 3:45 p.m., officials at the hospital diverted emergency room patients to other medical facilities and sealed off the hospital to visitors, said hospital spokesman Mark Rabson. As of 6:30 p.m. Sunday, the hospital started accepting emergency room patients again.

Phieffer was charged with making terroristic threats and with weapons offenses, including possession of a destructive device, and drug possession, reports said.

Man arrested after threatening to blow up Jersey City Medical Center, officials say

By Ken Thorbourne/The Jersey Journal
September 20, 2009, 5:13PM

A man was arrested this afternoon after entering the lobby of the Jersey City Medical Center with a package he said contained a bomb.

A man was arrested this afternoon after entering the lobby of the Jersey City Medical Center and threatening to blow up the hospital with a bomb, which he said was contained in a package he had with him, hospital officials said.

The man, who entered the hospital at 3:45, has been arrested, but the Jersey City Bomb Squad is still on the scene investigating the package, said hospital spokesman Mark Rabson.

The hospital's emergency room is currently not accepting patients and the lobby has been cordoned off, Rabson said.

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Jersey City Police destroy supposed bomb at Medical Center; hospital back to normal

By Ken Thorbourne/The Jersey Journal
September 20, 2009, 7:54PM

A man was arrested this afternoon after entering the lobby of the Jersey City Medical Center with a package he said contained a bomb. A 29-year-old Fort Lee man was taken in custody today after he entered the lobby of the Jersey City Medical Center at around 3:45 p.m. and threatened to blow up the hospital with a bomb contained in a package he was carrying, authorities said.

The lobby was evacuated and Bradford Phieffer was arrested without incident afterward, police said.

After an X-ray of the package by the Jersey City Police Department bomb squad proved inconclusive, it was taken outside and blown up at 6:28 p.m., said police spokesman Stan H. Eason.

The package contained "some sort or fuel, some wires, and some wax," Eason said.

"It had some elements that caused us concern, but it was neutralized through a control detonation," he said.

Besides clearing the lobby, officials at the hospitals diverted emergency room patients to other medical facilities and sealed off the hospital to visitors, said hospital spokesman Mark Rabson.

To assure the safety of patients, roughly 50 additional employees were brought in to help move them away from windows before the suspicious package was detonated, he said.

As of 6:30 p.m. last night, the hospital was taken off divert

Police didn't know last night why Phieffer made these alleged threats. His name was not listed in the hospital's database, Rabson said. Phieffer was charged with causing false public alarm, terroristic threats, and will possibly be charged with terrorism, Eason said.

He was taken the East District for questioning and would be taken later to the Hudson County jail in Kearny.