Sheriff says Bomb Found in Idaho Mail Box Ineffective

KETCHUM, Idaho (AP) — Officials in central Idaho say a homemade bomb found in a mailbox at a rural residence last week had "ineffectively" detonated before police arrived. Blaine County Sheriff Gene Ramsey tells the Idaho Mountain Express that the device he describes as "very crude" didn't operate as intended.

He says he doesn't believe it was intended to hurt anyone, but had it gone off effectively with someone nearby it could have caused injury. The bomb was found April 24 in the mailbox by a caretaker at the residence between Hailey and Ketchum.

Ramsey describes the device as a "chemical pressure device" that was intended to explode when pressure inside reached a certain level. He also says the device contained metal objects he describes as shrapnel. No suspects have been named.