FBI says arrest made in connection with bombs found outside Michigan stores

The FBI announced Tuesday that a person had been arrested in connection with two explosive devices discovered last week outside two mobile phone stores in northern Michigan.

The explosive devices were found on Thursday, September 16 with threat notes outside cell phone stores in Cheboygan and Sault Ste. Marie in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Law enforcement officers and bomb technicians from Michigan State Police and the FBI responded to the locations and made the devices safe, the FBI said.

Both devices were packaged in USPS priority mailboxes, sealed with black duct tape, and placed outside cell phone stores. There were threatening notes addressed to Verizon and AT&T on the top of each box. The notes were signed “HJ” or “Handcuff Johnny”. The letters “CMT” were written on each box.

A d

Additionally, authorities believe the devices are linked to a series of letters found in the Upper Peninsula last month. The letters, claiming to be from the “Coalition for Moral Telecommunications” (CMT) were found at several telecommunication tower sites across the UP. The letters made specific requests to the carriers, the FBI said.

An arrest was made on Monday evening, the FBI said on Tuesday. The charges are pending.

“Such a swift investigation cannot be successful without good partnerships,” read a statement from an FBI spokeswoman. “The unremitting efforts and transparent coordination between all investigative agencies were essential in quickly identifying and bringing the matter to a close, thereby disrupting the threat this individual posed to the public.”

Anyone with information on this investigation is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit advice at tips.fbi.gov.