Bomb Strapped Around Australian Girl's Neck Finally Disarmed
source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/03/us-australia-bomb-idUSTRE7722IV20110803
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(Reuters) - A young Australian woman was freed from a suspected bomb collared around her neck on Wednesday after 10 hours of drama that lasted past midnight and captivated the nation with police saying they were still investigating the incident.
The 18-year-old had been trapped for hours in a house in Mosmon, one of Sydney's most exclusive neighborhoods, in what media speculated was an extortion plot.
"We have secured the release of the young lady. She is safe and sound, she is being reunited with her parents as we speak. Our investigation of the crime scene will now begin in earnest," New South Wales assistant police commissioner Mark Murdoch told reporters.
New South Wales state police had consulted the Australian Federal Police on the device and made international inquiries, Murdoch said. Police said earlier they could not confirm local media reports that an explosive device, or bomb, was strapped to the 18-year-old's neck or other media reports that the incident was part of an extortion plot.
Murdoch said the woman was "in the vicinity" of an unspecified device, but would not confirm that it was strapped to her body. He said the case was being handled by the robbery and serious crimes squad, which he said dealt with extortion, among other crimes.
"Specialist police are with the young lady and continue to verify exactly what we are dealing with," Murdoch said.
Police responded to a call about the suspicious package at the house in mid-afternoon and were still on the scene 10 hours later.
Police said they had evacuated the area surrounding the house in the suburb of Mosman, one of the city's plushest districts with views of Sydney Harbor.
(Rebekah Kebede with additional reporting by Jill Gralow; Editing by Ron Popeski and Ed Lane)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/03/us-australia-bomb-idUSTRE7722IV2011080...
The 18-year-old had been trapped for hours in a house in Mosmon, one of Sydney's most exclusive neighborhoods, in what media speculated was an extortion plot.
"We have secured the release of the young lady. She is safe and sound, she is being reunited with her parents as we speak. Our investigation of the crime scene will now begin in earnest," New South Wales assistant police commissioner Mark Murdoch told reporters.
New South Wales state police had consulted the Australian Federal Police on the device and made international inquiries, Murdoch said. Police said earlier they could not confirm local media reports that an explosive device, or bomb, was strapped to the 18-year-old's neck or other media reports that the incident was part of an extortion plot.
Murdoch said the woman was "in the vicinity" of an unspecified device, but would not confirm that it was strapped to her body. He said the case was being handled by the robbery and serious crimes squad, which he said dealt with extortion, among other crimes.
"Specialist police are with the young lady and continue to verify exactly what we are dealing with," Murdoch said.
Police responded to a call about the suspicious package at the house in mid-afternoon and were still on the scene 10 hours later.
Police said they had evacuated the area surrounding the house in the suburb of Mosman, one of the city's plushest districts with views of Sydney Harbor.
(Rebekah Kebede with additional reporting by Jill Gralow; Editing by Ron Popeski and Ed Lane)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/03/us-australia-bomb-idUSTRE7722IV2011080...
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