On November 24, CNN reported that the largest authorities had found "the largest cache of certain homemade explosives ever found in one place in the United States" in a Southern California home. The home belonged to George Djura Jakubec, a 54-year-old Serbian national who attained U.S. citizenship and worked as a computer software consultant. Police searched it and found the huge stash, according to a later story by Fox News, after a gardener employed by Mr. Jakubec set off an explosion by brushing against an explosive powder left on the back yard of the home. CNN's report notes that Mr Jakubec is on probation for a 2009 burglary conviction. Multiple sources report that the materials are of the type(s) commonly used by terrorists.
Both Fox News and an LA Times report noted that Mr. Jakubec's reasons for compiling the explosives are still unknown. Neighbors and his gardener have described him as a quiet, withdrawn person. CNN reports that his estranged wife has stated that he has been "obsessively collecting stuff" (Compulsive Hoarding) and she thinks he's lost his mind.
Police: Record cache of homemade explosives found in San Diego County
November 24, 2010|By Michael Martinez, CNN
Alleged Owner of Massive Homemade Bomb Arsenal Is a Mystery Man
By Ed Barnes Published November 26, 2010 | FoxNews.com
According to the Fox News story, Mr. Jakubec was unemployed, having simply stopped going to work. His former employer is suing him for back-pay over time he received pay while not working.
Reporters checking with former neighbors at his previous residence of 15 years could not find anyone who remembered him.
It appears that authorities are not sure yet whether to consider this situation a terrorist threat. Based on the description of Mr. Jakubec by those closest to him, it is hard to determine whether he even intended to use the explosives, much less how. Authorities have not even been able to determine how he obtained the materials.
Authorities have determined that the entire stash must be destroyed. However, Mr. Jakubec's hoarding problem has greatly complicated the matter. The materials involved are too dangerous for a manned search and removal, but the house is too cluttered to allow a bomb-disposing robot to maneuver around inside.
This has left only the choice to burn the home in a meticulously planned, highly controlled fire. A team of experts and emergency workers will be involved in the operation, which will include the precautionary steps of evacuating nearby homes, monitoring weather to determine where the smoke will go, and shutting down nearby Interstate 15. Perfect weather will be needed for the operation, which is planned for this Wednesday.
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Comments: 45
I've seen obsessive hoarding, particularly with cats. I even personally know a "crazy cat lady," though she's not the worst I've heard of. Her top count was 17.
I've even heard of people hoarding weapons before. I've know guys who collected guns, but didn't have much ammo for the items in their collection, as the purpose of having them was rooted in the specific year, make and model of each item, rather than in practical use. My mother and I both fight a tendency to collect magazines (I'm winning, but Mom's not doing as well) with articles we've found informative. Everyone I know keeps something... but bombs? Holy crap, even if the guy really is just a compulsive hoarder... this is really scary! Can you imagine the disaster it would have been if his whole collection had accidentally been set off instead of just one item in the yard?
I cannot think of a single benign reason why someone would obsessively collect the kinds of explosives used to make car bombs, suicide bombs, etc. Not one.
Let's just hope the house doesn't get hit by lightning or something while they are waiting for the perfect time.
I am amazed that hasn't happened all ready.
I hope they are right, and they really are able to minimize the danger and pollution that will result from this.
I understand they can't just move everything. Some of this stuff is volatile enough to go off from being dropped, or bumped, or if movement creates a static charge that goes off nearby. They're really stuck because the guy was a hoarder, and I guess they decided it boiled down to a choice between a controlled burn on a schedule, or a surprise explosion over which they have no control.
I don't like it at all... but I also don't have a better idea.
Hopefully they are right... I shudder to think how bad something like this could be if not. I guess we will find out tomorrow.
"Controlled fires" tend to get OUT of control in a hurry, and since they don't know EXACTLY what they're dealing with, I see that being a VERY REAL possiblity...and a truly terrifying one.
Judge won't delay burning of Calif. bomb house
says Thursday.
(Apparently, the only evidence which could possibly help the guy's case is paperwork that is in the house. He wants to remove it before the house is burned. Authorities say it is too dangerous to remove ANYTHING from the house. I say wait until the last minute before the controlled burn, let him go in there, and if he accidentally sets something off, it's his OWN darned fault, & they'll be as ready for it as they were gonna be anyway... but who is gonna listen to me?)
Judge won't delay burning of Calif. bomb house
JIC...
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/top/all/7330311.html
Wishing you and your a Happy Holiday season!
It's such a mess.
Keep us informed. I can't wait to hear that it's over and all is WELL.
I hadn't heard that about the landlord. That is crappy - I guess, though, there's no one he can hold responsible for the issue, really. Mr. Jakubec isn't going to pay him anything from in jail. I bet he'll never rent anything to anyone with a criminal record again.
If I remember correctly, the neighborhood was evacuated last Thurs. or Fri... then the explosion was supposed to take place in a week... making it in two or three days...
I believe the powers that be are constructing walls around this house.
What about that steel mesh that's used to protect canyons from rock slides? That needs to be used also...
I'm glad I am back East - seeing that information on the news regularly, although I am in Serra Mesa not Escondido, still scared me.
Yep, according to the story, they're building walls and putting up flame-retardant materials, etc. in the neighborhood, which has been evacuated. Monday's AP story said they were planning to burn the building today.
I guess that they ruled out flooding with water then searching. Not illogical. One of the explosives my classmates made and experimented with in school exploded when we tried to dampen it for safe removal.
Worse, there are working recipes, and wrong recipes, some of which, when followed, can create substances which will harm the user and anyone around him. It's not wise for kids to play chemist with online recipes!
That could have been really bad...
I just can't believe someone who knew enough to be able to use those materials was insane and stupid enough to store them in so dangerous a manner! WTH was he thinking?
Bomb squads pretty well know their business. Those who don't die in the resulting explosion.
I wonder if you're right about the traps... the story sounds like he was just a hoarder who was really sloppy about where he kept things, but I wonder if maybe that was on purpose, not by accident. Either way, it's just weird.
I once knew a guy who worked on a bomb squad. He was the calmest, most laid back person I ever met and never did anything rash.
@ Leslie: Before internet, I used to keep way too many magazines, with pages containing articles I found instructive marked... until I read an article in a magazine that kind of clicked for me. It mentioned two things - the fire hazard of having stacks of magazines all over the place, and the fact that most information you can find in magazines today is also available on their respective websites. Now I hoard bookmarks on my browser, LOL!
State of emergency at 'bomb factory' house suspends environmental laws
Essentially, authorities have decided that the choice of either waiting or attempting to remove materials both enough danger of a totally uncontrolled burn that they are deciding upon what they consider to be the least of the evils.
There are individuals who disagree, including the defendant, but now that Gov. Schwarzenegger has actually declared a state of emergency, environmental laws are suspended and there will be no hearings on the subject.
Let it Burn: California ‘Bomb’ House Being Destroyed
Escondido bomb house set on fire; smoke rising
Still, it sounds totally scary to the rest of us, LOL! Fortunately, it's done and over.
The only concern left now, I guess, would be the level of pollution they're dealing with between the smoke and the leftovers. Hopefully it's not too much... but still, YUCK! :(
I am glad most hoarders keep things like old magazines and ceramic figurines!