(Image source: Sky News)
BY: JUSTIN WHALEY AND TRACY PFEIFER
ANCHOR: MEGAN MURPHY
You're watching multisource world news analysis from Newsy.
Two bomb disposal experts, two negotiators and 10 terrifying hours.
That’s what it took to get what authorities called a quote- “very elaborate device” -- believed to be a collar bomb -- off the neck of Australian teen Madeleine Pulver.
“All afternoon and evening, Australians were gripped by a bizarre drama unfolding in a multi-million-dollar property ... It began when an 18-year-old, Madeleine Pulver, telephoned her father … around 2:30 p.m. to tell him that a man wearing a ski mask had broken into their waterfront home and strapped a bomb to her neck.” (The Christian Science Monitor)
Turns out -- that device wasn’t a bomb at all. Police say - it was a hoax.
But some reports say officials still believe the incident could have been an extortion attempt on Madeleine and her well-to-do family.
“Miss Pulver’s father is the CEO of an international software company. One line of investigation is that this is one kind of extreme plan to extort money from her parents. They’ve now been reunited with Madeleine. Madeleine’s been released from North Shore hospital and will be interviewed by police today. They say the 18-year-old did meet the person responsible and finding that person is their next priority. ” (Sky News AU)
Still -- the changing details -- have raised numerous questions and a little confusion.
A crime reporter for Australia’s The Daily Telegraph tells 2GB radio-- he heard the note didn’t point to extortion at all.
MARK MORRI, THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: “I’ve been told that it in fact made no dollar value demands at all or any type of action, that in fact it was more of a threatening note, and not one of extortion or ransom. …It was described to me as a bit of a wishy-washy letter, by being articulate and coherent, but didn’t really have a specific aim.”
CHRIS SMITH, 2GB: “A warning shot of some sort?”
MORRI: “Maybe."
And just because the device wasn’t real -- doesn’t mean collar bombs aren’t a real threat.
That’s according to a security specialist, who tells The Daily Telegraph...
“These devices are usually made from crude materials. You can make them from nothing more than pieces of canvas, which are then stacked with small pouches filled with explosives. One of the reasons they are used is that they are closer to the head and neck and you don't need a large amount of explosives.”
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