An elderly man in Vacaville was injured by an explosive device hidden in his Sunday newspaper yesterday. When the man went to retrieve the paper from his lawn the hidden device exploded, alerting neighbors who found him "bloodied and lying on the lawn in front of his house," according to KGO-TV. The injured man was airlifted to the hospital in Davis while police evacuated the quiet-looking suburban neighborhood and cautioned others against picking up their own Sunday papers. No other explosives were found nearby. more ›

Grenades were discovered on the 600 block of Potrero Avenue this morning at around 7:15. According to BCN (via SFGate): "Potrero Avenue has been closed between Mariposa and 19th streets, and 18th Street has been closed between Hampshire and Utah streets during the investigation, Dangerfield said." more ›

Around 7:10am during this morning's commute, a heavyset man in a Black SUV called in to the KCBS traffic tipline to alert them to a potential traffic jam: his own vehicle he had pulled over on the westbound deck of the Bay Bridge. According to reports the man explained he was armed and his vehicle was carrying explosives along with his 16-year-old daughter he was holding as a hostage. A negotiator was requested to speak to the man, described by CHP as "truly mentally unstable," as he exited the vehicle and threatened to jump off the bridge. more ›

The bomb squad arrived at Market and Front this morning after a "suspicious package" was found. We'll update as soon as we hear more. And, if we may add another dash of alarmist news to your Friday, this comes on the heels of suspicious packages found throughout the world this morning. more ›

A reader, who sent in the above photo, tells us, "Most of Fort Funston is closed due to the discovery of an old, possibly active bomb." Twitter user fiercekitten reports: "Half of [Fort Funston] is closed because they found a live shell from the old fort." more ›

Oh oh. A suspicious looking package was discovered at 15th Street and San Bruno this afternoon -- well, 550 15th Street to be exact -- prompting the bomb squad to investigate. SFist reader Sean Manchester sent in the image of the squad in action. (We pray to God nothing happens to the Audi.) more ›

According to Emergency_In_SF, "Bomb threat at Pier 96 [home to Norcal's Recycle Central] resulting in evacuation of 100+ people. No other info available yet." (Posted at 3:38 p.m.) more ›

Alex Youshock, 17, has been identified as the former Hillsdale High School student who tried it set off pipe bombs at the San Mateo school yesterday. If you recall, ex-student Youshock, armed with a chainsaw, sword and makeshift bombs, tried to kill teachers and students Monday morning, prompting the school's evacuation. CBS 5's Joe Vazquez has word that "[a]gents with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and local police searched the suspect's apartment on Casa de Campo Street in San Mateo on Monday evening." According to Vazquez, authorities "removed bags of evidence from the boy's apartment, including what San Mateo police Lt. Mike Brunicardi described as "bomb making materials." SFGate reports that Youshock planned "was to detonate the pipe bombs outside classrooms, then attack students with the chain saw and the sword as they fled. Youshock has been described as a "really quiet" boy who "didn't have that many friends" and "kept to himself." Which is to say, he was like most of us during our high school years. Anyway, Hillsdale remains closed today in order to repair the bomb damage. more ›

Police are viewing the blast that shook San Francisco's Sunnyside neighborhood Monday night as an accident. Although illegal fireworks were found in the house's garage and rumors swirled about possible mischief, police still aren't sure what caused the explosion. The arson team at the scene ruled out any criminal activity. The blast - which blew off all but the top two steps on the staircase leading up to the second floor, as well as much of the lower front of the building - sent two residents to the hospital. Both are listed in critical condition. more ›

The police have ruled out electrical and natural gas as causes of last night's 108 Congo explosion. The front of the house was blown out (including the garage, where the explosion originated) and five people were injured, including two men inside the house and a 2-year-old who lives next door--his window was shattered and glass hit him in the face. more ›

South Van Ness Avenue was shutdown from 14th to 16th streets while the bomb squad pores over a black Dodge Ram, possibly linked to a pipe bomb explosion that occurred in Bayview on the 1100 block of Newhall Street. (Two men in their twenties have been detained for questioning.) So, you know, don't go there until it's all clear. Because: ka-blammo. Update: the little robot scanner guy is checking out the truck. Yay, little robot scanner guy! (SFGate) more ›

Berkeley police responded to a menacing looking suitcase sitting in front of a Bayer AG-owned building on Seventh Street between Dwight and Parker. Jackson West informs us that said drug company has "its biotechnology headquarters in the town and contributes grants to student research at the University of California." (Rut row!) Anyway, it didn't explode. Alas. But check out some harrowing shots of today's dramatic suitcase scare. (Valleywag) more ›

Holy cow! The Federal Bureau of Investigation (crudely known as the F.B.I.) added a cool $20,000 to the reward being offered for the arrests of the animal activists who injured a University of California-Santa Cruz scientist. Seriously, everyone is getting in on the action: UCSC threw down $15,000 to the fund, "a mix of local and national contributions" sweetened the pot considerably, and a $2,500 "gift" from the Humane Society helped out as well. Where on earth could these fiery firebombers be? Do you know? Call 831-420-5820 or the FBI at 415-553-7400. (SJ Merc)
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Here we go again. We just received word that "[t]he cops closed down 16th Street between Folsom and South Van Ness." And our favorite piece of SFPD technology, the adorable SFPD bomb robot, is currently over there sniffing out a "suspicious package." According to our tipster, "[a] cop told us to stay away from the windows. They think everything is okay, but they are being cautious." So...there you go. Update: 16th Street has reopened. No bomb was detected. more ›

According to SFist reader Salty, as of 8:30 p.m. the SFPD bomb squad has been stationed "[m]idway down the 1600 block, on the west side" of 39th Avenue (i.e., between Lawton and Moraga.) "Fire Chief on the scene. Ambulance still on scene. SFPD still on the scene. Bomb Squad Truck still on the scene." No word yet on any evacuations. Probably another stupid mortar from the war between the states, or whatever. Anyway, anyone in the area know what's up? Let us know in the comments. And be careful not to blow up. UPDATE: No ka-boom. Squad and sirens left a little before 9:40 p.m. more ›

SFist sources tell us that the bomb squad has been called to Golden Gate Park at JFK and 30th Avenue Carl Street in Cole Valley at around 6 p.m. Now, which one of you accidentally left your pack back in the park? But seriously, folks, we're not sure what the entire story is yet, or if there even is one, but we'll update when we know more. Stay tuned. more ›

It seems an "unattended backpack" prompted the 12th Street Station in downtown Oakland to temporarily close up shop. A little after 6 a.m. this morning a curious sack was found sitting alone on a train, which then lead to a montage sequence of bomb-sniffing dogs wrongly smelling something wrong, the bomb squad officers investigating, riders being shooed away, the station shutting down, and then re-opening just before 9 a.m. Luckily, no explosives were found. The end. more ›

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Offices in Capitol Hill received a manila envelope with a letter claiming responsibility for today's bombing of a landmark military recruiting station in Times Square, NYC. Our parent site, Gothamist, tells us that "WNBC reports that the letters, which arrived today, included a photo of the Army recruiting center 'before it was bombed and...the words 'We did it.'" Which group is claiming responsibility, exactly, remains to be known. more ›

Eeps! The bomb squad has been called over to the Oakland Marina this afternoon. It seems, according to Wendy Tokuda, that a box has been found, adorned with the text "81 millimeter mortar shells." Check out the live, alarmist web cast of the situation in progress here. more ›

Update: Sen. Barack Obama's campaign office in Rochester and John Edwards' offices have also been evacuated. Our sister site, Bostonist is live-blogging the situation right now. Apparently, a man wants to "speak to Hillary Clinton. He has two hostages (maybe more) and [allegedly has] a bomb strapped to his chest ... police have asked the media not to take live shots of the building." Yikes. A little bit of breaking news well outside of... more ›

According to CBS 5 (interrupting us right in the middle of The People's Court, no less!) "East Contra Costa County residents are being evacuated from an area near the unincorporated town of Knightsen because of a possible explosive device found inside of a residential motor home." Motor homes and explosive devices? Who could've imagined!? Anyway, that's all the info posted so far. We'll update as soon as more info becomes available. Update: Taken (again!)... more ›

-- Awesomeness: GG Park road to close on Saturdays! Yay! Mind the bison! [Examiner] more ›

EBay's company headquarters on Hamilton Avenue in San Jose, California has just been evacuated due to a suspicious looking package more ›

With a cool $5.4 million in new state bond money, according to the Chronicle, "BART will upgrade and expand its security camera system" to the likes of which you've never seen before! Dangerous sounding "smart cameras" will litter BART cars, stations, parking lots, and even inside of the Transbay Tube. more ›

It appears to be bomb day here at the ole 'Fist as we have yet another bomb story to relate to y'all. This one involves a die-hard (seriously die-hard) Giants fan who called in bomb threats at Turner Field in Atlanta. more ›

Good Lord, Bay Area residents. It seems that we had not one, but two bomb scares yesterday. more ›

-- They're not mad at you, they're mad at the dirt: unkempt offices at the Chronicle and elsewhere. [SFBG] more ›

As it gets closer to Halloween for LAist, a contributer recollects her tale of staring down the serial killer, Richard Ramirez, otherwise known as the Night Stalker. Must think happy thoughts -- okay, free organic chocolate chip cookies for Los Angeles -- now that's a happy thought. Other happy Los Angeles thoughts include an interview with Jack Kehler of The Big Lebowski (he was the Dude's landlord), a beautiful and magical photographic moment in Venice and the press making the speaker of the California State Assembly, Fabian Nunez, run away when being asked hard questions about sketchy luxurious and worldly expenses. more ›

Hey, remember angry Sarah Nome, the lady who refused to move out of the Kaiser hospital in Marin for over a year, and ran up a $1.4 million bill? Well, Kaiser's 1) gotten ownership of her house in San Anselmo and 2) will be auctioning it off to pay off her tab. Kaiser was awarded the house after Nome was put in the care of the state (after her daughter refused to take her in), and has been paying the mortgage while their case against Nome was pending -- even though they haven't actually been given access to the place. The house isn't in the best of shape -- it's apparently been hit by falling trees and Nome was in a fight with her insurance to get them to pay for it -- but given the real estate market in Marin, we're guessing it'll probably move fairly quickly. more ›