PDA

View Full Version : Mysterious bomber apprehended in Copenhagen


ThatSoundAgain
14th September 2010, 05:29 PM
Didn't know whether to put this one in Conspiracy Theories, but since I don't actually have a CT myself I'll put it here. It's just that this strange case has all the hallmarks of something that'll eventually mutate into weird CT territory.

Initial BBC report (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11265576)

Politiken's coverage (reputable Danish paper) (http://politiken.dk/newsinenglish/1058339/mystery-suspected-bomber/)

Basically, Friday a small explosion occurred in a Copenhagen hotel. It appears to be a misfire as it was a pretty small explosion in the lavatory of a regular hotel room. After a short time, a man who had fled the hotel was apprehended in a nearby park. Reports were at the time that he had more explosives with him, but that turned out not to be the case.

There are numerous things about the case that are intriguing. The man had a pistol, a bus ticket to Belgium, several very different outfits and a prosthetic leg. Also, several sets of false papers, some of which he'd been using successfully as far as I understand it (so they must be decent forgeries). Everything else in his possession seemed to be bought locally, including a multi-tool and a diskette case, which has led to some speculation about a letter bomb.

The weird thing is how much of a mystery he is to the police. He has no record with Europol, nobody around here apparently has his prints. He speaks French fluently, English and German. He's been careful in not revealing anything while being questioned, has requested both Christian, Muslim, and Jewish literature and is claiming to be a vegetarian (they presented him with a meal containing pork). Further, he's been prepared enough to mask his identity to the point of filing down the S/N on his prosthesis, and changing his appearance radically - arriving with a beard, then shaving and changing clothes before going out again. And, of course, clamming up totally.

So, playing the armchair intelligence analyst: He appears so prepared that it's unlikely he's doing this with no training and outside help. It's not something I know a lot about, though, and of course he's not more of a super-spy than to mess up with the explosive.

Thoughts?

mbp
14th September 2010, 05:39 PM
It's now being claimed that the guy is from Chechnya. (link to Danish article (http://www.bt.dk/krimi/afsloering-nu-er-bombemanden-genkendt))
Not really confirmed yet, though.

Gord_in_Toronto
14th September 2010, 05:40 PM
Assuming his prosthesis is metal, filing down the S/N does not necessarily made it unreadable. ISTR that there are techniques whereby it can be read even so and thus his identity may be discovered.

Unless he taken care to switch legs with someone else. :(

ThatSoundAgain
14th September 2010, 05:48 PM
mbp, good news that a lead has turned up. If it has, as you say.

There's also the almost certain possibility that there are lots of details we haven't been told.

mbp
14th September 2010, 06:06 PM
I certainly hope they know more about this than what's been reported so far. It all seems very very odd so far.

WildCat
14th September 2010, 07:09 PM
Heh, we have a mysterious bomber here too. Unfortunately, he lost his head and isn't talking: http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/09/witness-decapitated-body-found-near-evanston-school.html

eta: Oh, I see our guy isn't mysterious any more.

Checkmite
14th September 2010, 09:42 PM
Perhaps we've got a living specimen of the Somerton Man (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taman_Shud) on our hands.

ZirconBlue
15th September 2010, 07:28 AM
Is it the Evil Midnight Bomber What Bombs at Midnight?

There are numerous things about the case that are intriguing. The man had a pistol, a bus ticket to Belgium, several very different outfits and a prosthetic leg.

Did he actually need a prosthesis, or was the leg just in his luggage or something? ;)

mbp
15th September 2010, 07:45 AM
He did/does need it.

Here's a clip of him boxing:
FUmrvTJ2JOA

ETA: His name is "Lors Doukaiev" and he's been living in Belgium for the last five years.

There's speculation that this might be the same person as a "Lors Dukajev" who reportedly lost his foot to a Russian bomb in Chechnya in 1995/96. Their ages don't quite match, but he might have faked that when applying for asylum in Belgium.

ThatSoundAgain
15th September 2010, 07:48 AM
Heh, we have a mysterious bomber here too. Unfortunately, he lost his head and isn't talking: http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/09/witness-decapitated-body-found-near-evanston-school.html

eta: Oh, I see our guy isn't mysterious any more.

Urk, that is a nasty story, unknown victim or not.

Perhaps we've got a living specimen of the Somerton Man (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taman_Shud) on our hands.

I've had a morbid fascination with that case since I first read about it. Mysterious death, untraceable belongings, weird unsolved code, book apparently hastily hidden in a stranger's car.

Also, remember the Piano Man (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andreas_Grassl)?

Is it the Evil Midnight Bomber What Bombs at Midnight?



Did he actually need a prosthesis, or was the leg just in his luggage or something? ;)

The guy has apparently been identified as a Belgian citizen with origins in Chechnya. That's where he lost his leg, apparently. Yes, he needs the prosthesis, but is reportedly very agile despite it.

The tabloids here are wallowing in it. The Belgian man who originally identified him talked to the papers here, but has now shut up. Turns out he's a Belgian police officer who volunteered as a boxing coach for some program meant to keep young people out of trouble, and this guy was a pupil of his. Probably had a talking-to from his superiors...

All in all, desperately trying to keep my morbid curiosity in check over here.

boooeee
15th September 2010, 08:21 AM
Heh, we have a mysterious bomber here too. Unfortunately, he lost his head and isn't talking: http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/09/witness-decapitated-body-found-near-evanston-school.html

eta: Oh, I see our guy isn't mysterious any more.


Crap! That's a block from my old apartment.

Beerina
16th September 2010, 07:50 AM
Basically, Friday a small explosion occurred in a Copenhagen hotel. It appears to be a misfire as it was a pretty small explosion in the lavatory of a regular hotel room. After a short time, a man who had fled the hotel was apprehended in a nearby park. Reports were at the time that he had more explosives with him, but that turned out not to be the case.

There are numerous things about the case that are intriguing. The man had a pistol, a bus ticket to Belgium, several very different outfits and a prosthetic leg.


I think you're thinking of one of dozens of Hollywood movies.


Or the brand new season of Survivor, which just started last night:

Fp1eKNy_s-M

Checkmite
16th September 2010, 07:57 AM
Crap! That's a block from my old apartment.


You're upset that someone was killed near a place where you don't live anymore?