Authorities continued their search for a “person of interest” in the attempted bombing at a Littleton mall but released few details today as they searched for evidence in the case.
Southwest Plaza mall was evacuated shortly before noon yesterday after a small fire was discovered in a service hallway on the ground level. Investigators found a pipe bomb and a device rigged to two propane tanks. Neither of the devices ignited.
Throughout the night and into this morning investigators followed leads that may help them identify a man seen entering the mall in a series of photographs.
At a news conference this morning, authorities said they were not describing the man as a suspect, but would like to talk with him to see if he witnessed something or possibly had something to do with the incident.
The mall’s surveillance video shows a white man with gray hair and a mustache, wearing a dark cap with a light-colored logo on front. His shirt was horizontally striped gray and white, and he wore a dark jacket with silver buttons, jeans and dark shoes.
The investigation is a joint effort between the FBI, federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Information about the man has been released to authorities nationwide.
The FBI did not release any information about how the devices were made, how much damage they could have caused and whether the fire was an attempt to ignite the devices. Authorities are still conducting interviews with witnesses, said Jim Yacone of the FBI.
Jefferson County Sheriff Ted Mink said investigators are investigating to see if there is any connection to the anniversary of the Columbine attack 12 years ago and two miles from the plaza, but so far the only things linking the two incidents are the date they occurred. There is no known evidence connecting the two.
April 20 is also the anniversary of other notable events, including the birthday of Adolf Hitler and the date of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, but without a suspect in custody, no one but the bomber would know why they chose Wednesday to try and bomb the plaza.
That didn’t stop the media and public from speculating about the motive.
There was a mix of emotions this morning as employees and shoppers returned to the mall.
Some employees said it was just another day at work, but others, including Cindy Sear, held back tears.
“I was fine yesterday,” she said, “but this morning it’s scary.”
Sear works at the Pearl Vision store in the mall, next to the service hallway where police found the two devices.
Yesterday, Sear and her co-worker smelled smoke shortly before a mall security guard told them to evacuate the building.
“It’s just hard to see that this keeps going on,” Sear said. “The same day as Columbine – who would do this?”
Littleton resident, Teresa Rosenthal, said she has been shopping at the mall since it opened. Rosenthal’s oldest daughter was a freshman at Columbine when the shooting happened.
“It’s scary how much potential the devices had,” Rosenthal said. “It’s a very eerie feeling.”
Watching events unfold yesterday brought back the same feelings of panic and disbelief Rosenthal experienced 12 years ago, she said. This morning she arrived at the mall yearly with her younger daughter Madison Smith and 18-month-old grandson Dominic.
“We have to just keep going,” Rosenthal said. “Whoever did this was trying to instill that same fear from Columbine, we can’t let them do that.”
Kim McMahon of Littleton, was waiting to meet a friend for coffee at the Panera Bread store at the mall.
“My first thought was whoever did this was trying to state a point about Columbine,” McMahon said. “I think as a community we should be angry. “
She said the incident made her more cautious about her surroundings but it was not going to stop or scare her from completing her day-to-day life.
Scott Singer works at the Diamond Wireless cell phone kiosk. He left yesterday and was told by deputies this morning that he would be escorted into the building while they completed a sweep, he said.
Singer said he was not concerned about his safety in the mall, but he is more aware of his surroundings.
“It’s a weird feeling,” Singer said. “You just never know what is going to happen.”
Staff writer Joey Bunch contributed to this report.
