The ominous blog Puppet String News published a story on Facebook today claiming that “704 pounds of dynamite now missing from Pennsylvania work site.” Users flagged the news as possibly containing misinformation.
“Do we possibly have a major false flag in the works, as for some reason 704 lbs of dynamite have gone missing at a Pennsylvania work site?” Puppet String News asked readers. “This is very disturbing as law enforcement officials have yet to find this mass of stolen dynamite in Pennsylvania that has now been missing for around 24-48 hours.”
The news, however shocking, is true. On Monday Gregory General Contracting reported a theft of 400 blasting caps (detonators) and 640 pounds of explosives from a work site in Pennsylvania.
Initial reports were updated Wednesday, with the quantity of explosives believed stolen revised to 704 pounds.
On Thursday, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives offered a $10,000 award for “information that leads to the recovery of the stolen explosives and/or the arrest and conviction of those responsible.”
REWARD: ATF is offering up to $10,000 for info on the theft of approx. 640lbs of high explosives in Marietta, Penn. ATF, @PAStatePolice & Susquehanna Regional Police Dept. encourage anyone w/ info to call 1-888-ATF-BOMB (1-888-283-2662) or use the mobile Reportit app. pic.twitter.com/6637Nb4eIo
— ATF HQ (@ATFHQ) April 18, 2018
Reports are now surfacing that the ATF has raised the reward to $20,000.
ATF officials are still looking for more than 700 pounds of stolen explosives from a Lancaster County construction site. Reward is up to $20K @fox43 https://t.co/pfCKMR23C0 pic.twitter.com/GxjkJ8sbZv
— Jennifer Ready (@JenniferReadyTV) April 19, 2018
While the name Puppet String News does not elicit strong feelings of trust, the claim that explosives were stolen from a work site in Pennsylvania is correct. (This is to say nothing of the accuracy of the blog’s other articles and claims.)
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