3 Arrested for Bottle Bomb Explosions

An 18-year-old man and two juveniles were arrested Tuesday after police linked the trio to bottle bombs that exploded in front of a residence, Sgt. Keith Graves said.

At 3:30 p.m. police were sent to the 700 block of South O Street, near College Avenue, for a report of shots fired or an explosion. Witnesses also told police a vehicle was seen fleeing the area.

Officers found three bottle bombs that detonated at a home's front yard, Graves said.

Police at 3:45 p.m. stopped the suspected vehicle in the downtown area, and found evidence linking the occupants to the crime, Graves said.

Arrested on suspicions of possession of destructive devices were Andrew Cable, 18, and two juveniles — a male and female, Graves said. All three are Livermore residents.

No injuries were reported in the incident and police say the explosives are very dangerous.

"(Bottle bombs) can cause tremendous explosions," Graves said. "They are not a harmless prank. People can definitely get hurt."

The on Wednesday afternoon issued a press release regarding this incident. Here's new information from the release:

All three devices detonated at the bottom of a residential property driveway near the street.  No reports of injuries or property damage were received.

The chemical reaction explosive device has been in existence at least twenty years.  It usually consists of a plastic water or soda bottle filled with a chemical solution, then sealed with the screw top lid.  The chemical reaction of the solution releases gas that builds pressure in the bottle until the bottle structure fails and eventually explodes. Depending on the proximity and size of the bottle and amount of solution, the concussion and release of chemicals from the explosion can cause injury or death.

Officers determined that the suspects in this case knew at least one of the residents of the property where the bombs were detonated. The suspects claimed that the act was a prank and not intended to cause injury or damage.

The Livermore Police Department wishes to inform the public that, in addition to the inherent hazards of these devices, detonating such a device or merely possessing materials with intent to manufacture or detonate a device is a felony.