FBI confirms Colorado gunman’s apartment ‘rigged with sophisticated explosives’
Federal officials have confirmed the presence of a “sophisticated set-up” of explosives in the apartment of James Holmes, suspected of killing at least 12 and wounding 38 others at the latest Batman premiere in Colorado.
Five nearby buildings have been evacuated, and law enforcement officials are discussing ways of detonating or disarming the explosives, according to media reports on the ground.
The Aurora police chief has said the explosives are so complex, “police could be on the scene for hours or days”.
Ben Leung, a 27-year-old pharmacy student, told local media he lives on the first floor of the same building as the suspect, James Holmes. In a phone interview Leung said only people affiliated with the University of Colorado at Denver are allowed to live in the building.
Leung said he went to bed shortly after midnight, then awoke when police in riot gear banged on his door and told him the building was being evacuated. “At that time I had no idea what was going on,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon spokesman has told reporters that US service members appear to be among the casualties of the shooting.
According to the Department of Defense, 2 Air Force reservists and 1 Navy service member were among the injured.
A fire truck ladder is pictured outside the Denver shooting suspect’s apartment building in Aurora Colorado, July 20, 2012 (Reuters / Jason Hatfield)
Aurora Police officers are pictured outside an apartment building in Aurora Colorado, July 20, 2012 (Reuters / Jason Hatfield)
FBI officers, Aurora police officers, and fire crews are pictured outside the Denver shooting suspect’s apartment building in Aurora Colorado, July 20, 2012 (Reuters / Jason Hatfield)
FBI officers, Aurora police officers, and fire crews are pictured outside the Denver shooting suspect’s apartment building in Aurora Colorado, July 20, 2012 (Reuters / Jason Hatfield)
