Homemade bomb remains mystery in Colorado Springs

Neighbors living near where an explosive device was found Thursday, are wondering how powerful and dangerous it actually was.

On Friday, Colorado Springs police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives released no new details about the device near Fillmore and Tremont streets, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

The device was found and handled by two landscaping workers who were unaware of the danger and thankful that the device didn’t explode.

“That’s the scary part,” said Marvin Owens, one of the workers. “Whoever is doing this, you need to get some psychiatric help or turn yourself in because you’re not right.”

During the five hours between the discovery of the device and its removal by the bomb squad, police tried to minimize the danger by closing Tremont Street in front of an apartment complex, limiting traffic in and out of the complex, and temporarily closing busy Fillmore Street during evening rush hour.

Despite the danger, several neighbors tried to get as close as they could to the scene, hoping to see the device for themselves. The device was in the back of the workers’ pickup truck on Tremont near the complex.

The only evacuation was to a nearby Dairy Queen store.

“I’m not worried,” said resident Gary Hollis. “We’ve all got to go sometime. This is a rough neighborhood.”

The device, described by police as a small homemade explosive, was taken to Fort Carson for disposal.