Bottle Bomb Builder Booked

Fredericksburg City Police have arrested a local man for making and setting off explosive devices.

Police initially responded to the 1500 block of Jefferson Davis Highway at around 9:45 p.m. on October 26 to investigate reports of loud noises similar to gun shots.

"Once on scene, a plastic soda bottle was found smoking on the ground," reads a statement released by city police. "The bottle had been torn apart as if it had exploded and several pieces of aluminum foil were found near the bottle."

Witnesses told police they saw a familiar face leave the scene in a gray car. Police also found four other bottles nearby, two of which had not detonated yet.

Captain Rick Pennock with the Fredericksburg Police Department did not know the particular makeup of the bomb, but described it as "some sort of chemical bomb."

The description of the explosive devices, with foil found inside the bombs with an as yet undetermined liquid, seems to resemble a Drano bomb, also known as a "works" bomb. A works bomb works by combining Drano and aluminum foil in a sealed bottle. The foil reacts with chemicals in the drain cleaner and produces gasses which build up in pressure inside the bottle until it bursts. According to Snopes.com, when the bottle bursts, the liquid inside is boiling hot.

A bomb technician from the Virginia State Police deactivated the remaining bombs.

City police arrested 25-year-old Fredericksburg resident Corey Brown with creating, possessing or using a bomb or explosive device. Brown was found by police after returning to the scene and admitting that he created the bombs.