FBI Issues Alert Over Valentine Teddy Bears

[David Morris]

http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml;jsessionid=CXKBOVIIRYWLYCRBAELCFEYKEEARKIWD?type=topnews&StoryID=597792

February 14, 2002 01:32 PM ET

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The FBI was on the lookout Thursday for nine white 
Valentine teddy bears that could be packed with explosives.

The Los Angeles field office of the FBI appealed for public help in finding 
a man, described as being possibly of Arab descent, who bought propane 
canisters, air gun pellets and nine white 20-inch high Valentine bears from 
a Wal-Mart store in Stevenson Ranch, north of Los Angeles, last month.

Officials said the purchase may well have been entirely innocent but the 
warning stoked fears in a post-Sept. 11 United States already on edge after 
a new nationwide alert issued by U.S. authorities on Monday.

"We don't know why he bought this or what he was going to use it for," said 
FBI spokesman Matt McLaughlin. "It's possible he had nine Valentines ... 
(but) we believe this could also be used as an explosive device."

FBI officials said the man is not considered a suspect and said there were 
no indications of any link to criminal activity. But they said he was wanted 
for questioning and warned people to be on guard against unexpected 
Valentine gifts.





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