Police investigate bomb in Target women’s bathroom (Photo: Screen capture)
EVANSTON – A small bomb exploded in the women’s bathroom at a Target store in Evanston on Wednesday, and officials are investigating whether it’s connected to the company’s policy allowing transgender people to use the bathroom of their choice.
Commander Joe Dugan says no one was inside the bathroom when the small explosion happened a little after 4 o’clock. It caused minor damage and no one was injured. Early indications are that a plastic bottle was used but no projectiles like nails or tacks were inside it. Investigators are gathering evidence including examining store security camera video.
Yep, someone went there. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and it wasn’t a major effort as far as bombs go, but that doesn’t matter much. What does matter is that the first person with a very dangerous mindset has done this, because I’m pretty sure we all know this won’t be the last. Terrorism has a face, and it’s in the house with us.
Via WGNtv.
Bet ya ten bucks it was a white dude.
No bet, I want to keep my money.
Dang, not that far away (maybe 30 miles south). My moneys on a Christofascist. There are a few in the area.
Could be, Nerd. Either that, or a teenager doing it just because. Either way, it’s scary.
Either way, I think it should be classified as a hate crime. Whoever did it for whatever reason, even if it was a teenager doing it just because: you can’t be ignorant of the hate towards Target re: bathrooms and people wanting to use them, and considering this sort of prank in that sort of climate, it may not be hate per se but it certainly is a callous disregard for the seriousness of the issue.
Wants kids to be safe in bathrooms.
Puts a bomb in bathroom.
Siobhan, #1
LOL, exactly what I said to my brother when we heard the news.
Christian terrorist.
rq @5:
Without a doubt, it is domestic terrorism. The purpose is to make people fear shopping at Target. The bigots are not satisfied with simply boycotting, they must try to force others to stop shopping there. With all their talk about respecting the Constitution and their rights, they are quick to trample the rights of other people.
Saad @6:
Consistency is a bug, not a feature for christofascists.
Damn, I wish I’d taken Siobhan’s bet at # 1: Police Cmdr. Joseph Dugan says a 44-year-old woman has been taken into custody as a “person of interest” in the case…
Since no racial description was given, I’d bet this woman is white.
Pierce @ 10:
I don’t believe the cops, saying there’s no transgender tie-in here. It’s a Target, there’s no other reason for someone to leave an exploding plastic bottle in one of their lavs. They also said there are no charges, so I don’t know what the fuck is going on yet, and I don’t think they do either.
A bomb going off in the women’s restroom in Target in June 2016 not being related to anti-trans bigotry would be the biggest coincidence in human history.
Okay. A woman did it, so? It’s still probably a hate crime because we all know women can be bigots too. White christian women, especially. And it was probably less conspicuous than sending a man into the women’s bathroom. (Yeah, I don’t believe the police either -- it’ll be just like that bombing of the NAACP that is not a hate crime.)
rq,
“Because we all know women can be bigots too.”
Being someone who was mistreated by white women as a kid, it seems to me too many are forgetful about this.
robertbaden:
*Snort* I doubt that, and I’m someone who was more than mistreated by more than one white woman. Most people are pretty aware of the fact that the bulk of pro-lifers are women, too. I expect it has more to do with the history of those protesting Target, the men donning wigs and skirts to prove they can go in the women’s lav at Target, and that most bombers are men.
So far I have not found any more on this story -- such as whether the woman held “as a person of interest” has been named, charged, or released -- from local or atheist sources.
Dan Arel at Patheos Atheist Channel does promise updates ” as more information is made available.”
I think we can at least rule out direct involvement by the Army of God and other hardcore hyperchristians who have demonstrated competence and experience in serious firebombing.
Pierce:
Yes, they would have done a proper job of it.