Missing Explosives Recovered By PA Authorities

Authorities say they have recovered the explosives reported missing from a Pennsylvania work site earlier this week. Evidence of discarded explosives was found Friday afternoon at a public park in East Donegal Township, Lancaster County, The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said in a statement late Friday.

However, it is not clear if all of the explosives stolen from the contracting company in Marietta, Lancaster County have been located.

The ATF said investigators recovered evidence of 320 cartridges of dynamite, weighting approximately 352 pounds, at Riverfront Park. A total of 404 blasting caps were also recovered there. Initial inventory of the missing explosives was 640 cartridges, about 704 pounds, and approximately 400 blasting caps.

However, authorities believe the initial amount reported stolen could have been inaccurate.

“We are making every attempt to ensure there are no additional explosive materials still unaccounted for. We are investigating the possibly the inventory conducted earlier this week was based on inaccurate acquisition and disposition records," said Special Agent in Charge Donald Robinson.

RELATED: Urgent Search On For 700 Pounds Of Explosives Stolen In PA

Special agents from the ATF Philadelphia Field Division were called to to the park Friday afternoon for a report of possible explosives discarded in a creek. Investigators with the ATF, joined by state and local police, found the numerous blasting caps and the dynamite cartridges floating in a creek underneath a railroad overpass.

The identification markings matched those from the items reported stolen from the pipeline work site, the ATF said.

“The detonators and dynamite recovered today are now stored in law enforcement explosives magazines in the area. The inventory of the missing explosives and blasting caps was based on the paperwork provided by the contractor after the report of the theft occurred,” Robinson said.

Investigators have conducted almost 300 hundred interviews of employees and other witnesses relating to the investigation. Interviews are expected to continue throughout the weekend.

Anyone with information related to the discarded materials or the theft of the explosive materials should contact the ATF hotline at 1-888-ATF-BOMB (1-888-283-2662) or call 911. Tips can also be submitted at www.reportit.com (link is external).

All tips will be kept confidential.

The $20,000 reward is still active for information leading to the identification and/or the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the theft.

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