October 4, 2005
Questions Abound Surrounding Suicide of College Student
On the same day Islamic suicide bombers killed at least 26 people in the Indonesian resort town of Bali, an American blew himself up in similar fashion. You read that right--this past Saturday night, a 21-year-old University of Oklahoma student named Joel Henry Hinrichs III blew himself up outside the school's football stadium during a sold-out game between OU and Kansas State (with 84,000 fans in attendance). Hinrichs, an engineering major who reportedly battled depression, killed himself in the fashion of Islamic terrorists, by detonating a bomb strapped to his body. Other than Hinrichs, no one was hurt by the powerful explosion--he was reportedly seated on a bench about 100 yards from the stadium when the bomb detonated.
But as worldnetdaily.com reports, questions abound regarding Hinrich's motives. Was his suicide merely a desperate, tragic act committed by a troubled individual? Or did Hinrichs have more sinister motives? In other words, was this in fact a failed attempt at a suicide bombing, which was supposed to be carried out inside the crowded stadium? At this early stage of the investigation, it's impossible to tell. But according to investigator Douglas Hagmann's Web site , investigators found bombmaking materials and Islamic jihadist literature--some written in Arabic--during a search of Hinrichs' apartment on campus.
Here's more, from Hagmann:"Further reports by the same officials indicated that the bomb was detonated prematurely when the suspect was either arming a bomb vest or backpack, which contained TATP, a homemade explosive. TATP (triacetone triperoxide) is a very potent but relatively easily manufactured explosive compound that was used in the July London bombings. It is important to note that TATP has been cited in numerous Jihad bomb-making manuals.
Interestingly enough, Hagmann says sources have told him that Hinrichs--who was white--lived with at least one or two other men of Pakistani origin, although it is not clear if the Pakistani men actually attended the university, which is located in Norman, OK. Check out Hagmann's website (link is provided above) for more. If not for the work of Hagmann and worldnetdaily.com, this story very well may have been buried. As of this writing, the New York Times, CNN and the rest of the mainstream media have completely ignored it. I'll be giving updates as soon as more information becomes available.
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