DATE=8/13/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237018
TITLE=BOMB INVESTIGATION SIDEBAR  (L)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  AGENTS FROM THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION ARE 
LEADING THE SEARCH FOR CLUES AND SUSPECTS IN THE EAST AFRICAN 
EMBASSY BOMBINGS, AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE FOUND SOME KEY PIECES OF
EVIDENCE.  U-S AND KENYAN OFFICIALS ARE GIVING FEW DETAILS OF THE
POLICE WORK, BUT CORRESPONDENT JIM RANDLE REPORTS, MOST BOMBING 
INVESTIGATIONS FOLLOW SIMILAR PATTERNS.

TEXT:  FORMER F-B-I SPECIAL AGENT LEN CROSS HELPED INVESTIGATE 
THE BOMBINGS AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER IN NEW YORK, THE AIR FORCE
BARRACKS BLAST IN SAUDI ARABIA, AND THE FEDERAL BUILDING BOMB IN 
OKLAHOMA CITY.

THE RETIRED 26-YEAR F-B-I VETERAN WAS ONE OF THE AGENTS WHO 
HELPED START THE F-B-I'S FIRST 'EVIDENCE RESPONSE TEAM' OF 
SPECIALISTS WHO SIFT THE DEBRIS FOR CLUES IN MAJOR BOMBINGS.

F-B-I AGENTS SAY THEY HAVE FOUND SOME BITS AND PIECES OF THE 
VEHICLE THAT CARRIED THE BOMB IN NAIROBI.  MR. CROSS SAYS IF THIS
PROVES TRUE, IT COULD HELP INVESTIGATORS.

                      /// CROSS ACT 147 ///

         EVERY PART ON THERE HAS NUMBERS ON IT.  AND THAT IS WHAT
         WE DID AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER, THAT IS HOW THEY WERE 
         ABLE TO TRACK IT.  BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER ON THE VEHICLE,
         THEY WERE ABLE TO TRACK WHERE, WHO MADE THE VEHICLE, AND
         THEY WERE ABLE TO TRACK WHERE IT WAS. AND THAT IS HOW 
         THEY WERE CAUGHT.

                         /// END ACT ///

MR. CROSS SAYS ANOTHER PART OF THE INVESTIGATION FOCUSES ON HOW 
LARGE AND POWERFUL THE EXPLOSION WAS.  HE SAYS EXPERTS WILL FIND 
PIECES OF RUBBLE AND SEE HOW FAR THEY TRAVELED, AND HOW MUCH THEY
WEIGH.  THEY WILL ALSO EXAMINE THE CRATER IN THE GROUND AND SEE 
HOW LARGE IT IS, AND WHAT SORT OF SURFACE IT PENETRATED.  WITH 
THIS AND OTHER INFORMATION, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR EXPERTS TO 
CALCULATE THE EXPLOSIVE POWER OF THE BOMB.  

A SMALL, COMPACT BOMB THAT IS VERY POWERFUL WOULD INDICATE A HIGH
LEVEL OF SOPHISTICATION, AND NARROW THE FIELD OF POSSIBLE 
SUSPECTS. 

MR. CROSS ALSO SAYS TECHNICIANS AND CHEMISTS ARE SEEKING CLUES TO
THE EXACT CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE EXPLOSIVE.  AMONG OTHER 
THINGS, THEY USE SWABS TO WIPE CERTAIN SURFACES TO SEE IF THERE 
IS RESIDUE FROM THE BOMB.  THESE SAMPLES CAN BE ANALYZED AT THE 
LABORATORY FOR POSSIBLE EVIDENCE.  

MR. CROSS SAYS EXPLOSIONS ARE -- VERY, VERY RAPID CHEMICAL 
REACTIONS -- AND DIFFERENT CHEMICAL REACTIONS LEAVE DISTINCTIVE 
KINDS OF RESIDUE. 

HE SAYS INVESTIGATORS ARE ALSO SEEKING PIECES OF THE BOMB.

                      /// CROSS ACT 123 ///

         YOU ARE LOOKING AT TRYING TO PUT THIS DEVICE TOGETHER IS
         WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT.  EVERYTHING YOU CAN POSSIBLY 
         DO.  BECAUSE WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS LOOKING FOR THAT 
         SIGNATURE.  EVERY BOMB HAS A SIGNATURE ON IT.  USUALLY, 
         IF YOU GOT A GROUP THAT IS OPERATING, THEY HAVE A 
         CERTAIN WAY THEY MAKE DEVICES.

                        /// END ACT /// 

MR. CROSS SAYS THE WORK OF SIFTING THROUGH TONS OF BLOODSTAINED 
RUBBLE IN TROPICAL HEAT IS HAZARDOUS, AND DRAINING PHYSICALLY AND
EMOTIONALLY.  BUT HE SAYS HIS FORMER COLLEAGUES WILL PERSIST 
UNTIL THEY GET THE EVIDENCE TO TELL WHAT HAPPENED.   (SIGNED). 

NEB/RAE

13-Aug-98 9:57 AM EDT (1357 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.