$7,500 reward offered for bombing of BNSF facility
SUGAR GROVE, Ill. -- A $7,500 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons who pipe bombed a Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railway switching shed near suburban Sugar Grove, Web site www.examiner.com reports.
It happened in the early morning hours of May 12, 2009. The pipe bomb was dropped into the shed through an air vent on the roof.
The FBI says the explosion severely damaged switching controls and caused a major disruption of rail traffic to the BNSF's Aurora line.
The Chicago FBI, BNSF Railway police and the Kane County Sheriff's Office are all involved in the investigation. Under the Federal Train Wreck Statute, a person faces up to 20 years in prison for intentionally destroying railroad infrastructure.
BNSF is coming up with the cash for the reward. Anyone with information is asked to call the BNSF tip line at (800) 832-5452. You can also call the FBI at (312) 421-6700.
(The preceding report appeared on the Web site www.examiner.com on July 22, 2009.)
CHICAGO - The FBI has increased from $5,000 to $7,500 the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who bombed a BNSF Ry. switch shed near Sugar Grove May 12, the WBBM Web site reports.
FBI Special Agent Ross Rice said that to date, there is no evidence linking the incident to any other sabotage either on BNSF property or in the Chicago area, and said it may have been "a prank."
Someone dropped a pipe bomb down a rooftop air vent, and the resulting explosion destroyed switching equipment inside.
No one was hurt, but Rice said the blast disrupted both Amtrak and freight operations on the line for several days.
The shack is located several miles west of the terminal used by Metra BNSF commuter trains, in Aurora.
Rice said a number of tips have been processed and extensive investigation done. But he said the early hour of the bombing and its location have made it difficult to find any eyewitnesses.
The FBI is investigating alongside BNSF's own police department and Kane County Sheriff's police, under the Federal Train Wreck statute, which provides for penalties of up to 20 years in prison.
Anyone with information is urged to call the chicago FBI office or BNSF Ry. tip line.
(This item was posted July 27, 2009, on the WBBM Web site.)
