NewsRelease:Investigationofexplosionincidentisongoing

NorthDakotaJointInformationCenter

12:54PM

ForImmediateRelease
Contact:Lt.TomIverson,NDHP,7013282455

Investigationofexplosionincidentisongoing

Mandan,N.D.LawenforcementagenciesarecurrentlyinvestigatingtheareaoftheBackwaterBridgethis
morningwherelawenforcementreportedhearinganexplosionatapproximately3:00amonNov.21.Officers
onthesceneoftheexplosionsaytwomalesandafemalewereusingabarricadetohidetheiractivityunder
andaroundtheremainingburnedvehiclestationedonthenorthsideoftheBackwaterBridge.Afterrepeated
ordersfromlawenforcementtocomeoutfrombehindthebarricadeandattemptstoforcethemoutwithless
thanlethaldirectimpactofbeanbagsandspongerounds,officersnoticedsubjectsapproachtheareawith
oneofthemrollingmultiplesilvercylinderobjectstowardthesubjectspositionedunderoraroundtheburned
vehicle.Itwasatthistimeanexplosionoccurredandseveralprotestorsrantothearea,pulledafemalefrom
undertheburnedvehicle,andfledthescene.

Uponinvestigation,lawenforcementinvestigatorsfoundonepoundpropanecylindersincludingonethat
appearedtobeintentionallypuncturedandotherdebrisinthearea,includinglargerocksandglassjars
consistentwiththedesignofMolotovcocktails.Otherevidencewastakenandiscurrentlybeinginvestigated.

Furtherdetailswillbereleasedlaterthisafternoonaswecontinuetoreceiveinformationfromthe
investigation.

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