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| Texas launches criminal investigation into explosion at West fertiliser plant | Texas launches criminal investigation into explosion at West fertiliser plant |
| (3 days later) | |
| A first responder to last month's fertiliser plant blast in West, Texas, was charged Friday with possession of a pipe bomb as authorities announced they were treating the deadly explosion as a criminal act. | A first responder to last month's fertiliser plant blast in West, Texas, was charged Friday with possession of a pipe bomb as authorities announced they were treating the deadly explosion as a criminal act. |
| Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) arrested paramedic Bryce Reed in the early hours of Friday. The 31-year-old later appeared in court on a count of possessing a destructive device. | Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) arrested paramedic Bryce Reed in the early hours of Friday. The 31-year-old later appeared in court on a count of possessing a destructive device. |
| Authorities have not said if the charge is related to the explosion at the West Fertilizer Company on 17 April, an incident that killed 14 people, left 200 others injured and flattened scores of homes. | Authorities have not said if the charge is related to the explosion at the West Fertilizer Company on 17 April, an incident that killed 14 people, left 200 others injured and flattened scores of homes. |
| But in another development Friday, Texas's Department of Public Safety confirmed that it had launched a criminal investigation into the blast. | But in another development Friday, Texas's Department of Public Safety confirmed that it had launched a criminal investigation into the blast. |
| State officials have instructed rangers and a sheriff's department to assist in the probe. Prior to Friday's developments, it was thought that the incident was being investigated as a potential industrial accident. | State officials have instructed rangers and a sheriff's department to assist in the probe. Prior to Friday's developments, it was thought that the incident was being investigated as a potential industrial accident. |
| In a statement Friday, Steven McCraw, director of the state's Department of Public Safety said he would ensure that "no stone goes unturned" as investigators sought to discover what caused the explosion. | In a statement Friday, Steven McCraw, director of the state's Department of Public Safety said he would ensure that "no stone goes unturned" as investigators sought to discover what caused the explosion. |
| Sheriff Parnell McNamara of McLennan County will help lead the criminal investigation. He said: "The citizens of McLennon County and Texas must have confidence that this incident has been looked at from every angle and professionally handled – they deserve nothing less." | Sheriff Parnell McNamara of McLennan County will help lead the criminal investigation. He said: "The citizens of McLennon County and Texas must have confidence that this incident has been looked at from every angle and professionally handled – they deserve nothing less." |
| Officials have not directly linked the launch of a criminal investigation with the arrest of Reed. "Authorities will not speculate whether the possession of the unregistered destructive device has any connection to the West fertiliser plant explosion on April 17," the US attorney's office said in a statement. | Officials have not directly linked the launch of a criminal investigation with the arrest of Reed. "Authorities will not speculate whether the possession of the unregistered destructive device has any connection to the West fertiliser plant explosion on April 17," the US attorney's office said in a statement. |
| Reed, a paramedic and incident commander with the West Emergency Medical Services, was one of the first responders caught up in the explosion. He has spoken widely to the media following the blast. | Reed, a paramedic and incident commander with the West Emergency Medical Services, was one of the first responders caught up in the explosion. He has spoken widely to the media following the blast. |
| In an interview with the LA Times, Reed explained how he had to deliver the news to a friend's family that a fellow first-responder had died. | In an interview with the LA Times, Reed explained how he had to deliver the news to a friend's family that a fellow first-responder had died. |
| "He was my best friend. He got me help through the crisis in my life. He's my brother," Reed is quoted as saying. Photographs showed him crying at the memorial services of victims. | "He was my best friend. He got me help through the crisis in my life. He's my brother," Reed is quoted as saying. Photographs showed him crying at the memorial services of victims. |
| At the US District Court in Waco on Friday, Reed did not enter a plea. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. | |
| • This article was amended on 13 May 2013. The original said Reed could face up to 10 years in prions, rather than prison. This has been corrected. | |
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