By Rod Hansen
Staff Writer

Goffstown police said a pressure bomb found behind a local elementary school was probably placed there as a prank.

Officer Katherine Walsh was on patrol at about 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7, when she saw an object smoldering on the ground behind Maple Avenue Elementary School, said Goffstown Police Sgt. Pierre Pouliot.

After securing the area, Walsh called the Goffstown Fire Department. Firefighters determined the item to be a pressure bomb.

The explosive was likely constructed using tin foil and Liquid Drano, Pouliot said. When placed in a closed environment such as a capped soda bottle, the items react in such a way to cause the bottle to explode.

“I think whoever did it just thought it was something to do,” he said. “To put the two things into the bottle, cap it and then wait for it to go ‘ka-boom’!”

A portion of the materials used to make the device has been given to the Manchester Fire Department for analysis, while the remaining materials have been taken into evidence, Pouliot said.

Police at this time have no information regarding who might have constructed the bomb.

“The only evidence we have is whatever people can give us,” Pouliot said, requesting anyone with information to contact police at 497-4858.

The creation of such explosives is not uncommon, Pouliot said, with Goffstown police having found three similar devices in the past couple of months.

“It’s no different than what kids used to do with vinegar and baking soda, but now we’re dealing with more combustible materials,” he said.