Maine bomb maker blew himself up real good

http://www.journaltribune.com/articles/2010/06/28/news/doc4c28b30026677917221117.txt

Alfred man charged in pipe bomb incident

By TAMMY WELLS
Staff Writer
Published:
Monday, June 28, 2010 12:08 PM EDT

ALFRED — An investigator with the State Fire Marshal’s Office who inspected the 60 Avery Road residence of Robert Wayne Infante Friday morning found 12 pipe bombs in various stages of construction, according to court documents filed in connection with Infante’s arrest.

Agents with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives charged Infante, 47, with possession of a destructive device Friday, after a bomb squad found and detonated five pipe bombs in a car registered to Infante in the parking lot of Southern Maine Medical Center. Infante had driven to the hospital after refusing treatment for hand injuries by Alfred Rescue, according to police reports.

Several explosive devices – neighbors said four or five – were also detonated Friday evening at Infante’s Avery Road home, a Cape-Cod-style woodframe structure with an old schoolbus parked in the driveway.

Infante called emergency workers about 8:50 a.m. Friday, initially telling them he’d been hurt in a propane explosion in his basement, according to a U.S. District Court affidavit filed by ATF Special Agent Paul McNeil.

When rescue workers arrived, Infante met them at the entrance to Avery Road and allegedly told them he’d injured his hand filling a butane lighter. When a rescue worker unwrapped a towel from Infante’s bleeding hand, he saw a deep laceration near the thumb and that his middle finger was missing from the knuckle up. As well, the emergency worker observed superficial burns on Infante’s chest similar to birdshot, or fine, powdery burn marks.

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http://wbztv.com/wireapnewsme/Maine.man.injured.2.1776963.html

Jun 28, 2010 1:49 pm US/Eastern

Maine Man Injured By Blast Appears In Court

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) ― The lawyer for a Maine man accused of possession of unregistered explosives says people should let the case unfold and avoid jumping to conclusions.

Law enforcement officials say they detonated five pipe bombs found inside Robert Infante's car after he drove himself to a hospital Friday after blowing part of his hand off. Infante contends he was victim of a propane blast; investigators say the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device.