22 Billboards Warning About Flashlight Bombs Go Up In Phoenix

It's been four weeks since the first of three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) hidden inside flashlights appeared in Arizona.  And, in the ten days since the Blaze first reported on this story, not much has happened. Police have not announced any arrests and they have not identified any "persons of interest." The people in Phoenix are reportedly "on edge."

However, there is some good news. Since the May 24th incident where a flashlight exploded at a local Salvation Army donation center, no additional IEDs have been reported. But the police and ATF do not believe the case is closed or the people/persons responsible for building and planting these bombs are finished.

Amanda Lee Myers of the Associated Press reports:

Police still have no idea who is behind them and have taken the unusual step of putting up 22 billboards across the sprawling metro area to warn residents about discarded flashlights.

ATF Special Agent Tom Mangan told the AP's Myers that the agency doesn't believe there is a connection between the flashlight bombs and terrorism because of the random placement of the bombs and a lack of demands or messages after the explosions occurred.

The agency's offer of $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the flashlight bomber still stands. However, law enforcement agencies are reporting that all of the leads called into the hotline have turned up very little credible information.

Meanwhile, Phoenix remains on edge and the Salvation Army is no longer accepting donations of flashlights.