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Small bomb explodes
at Big Isle high school


KEAAU, Hawaii >> Big Island police are investigating the explosion of a small, apparently homemade bomb Monday on the campus of Keaau High School, five miles south of Hilo, police said.

The lunch-hour incident followed the detonation of another small bomb at the school Jan. 30, said Vice Principal Sylvia Lee. No one was hurt in either case.

"I am concerned that there were two alleged pipe bombs on campus," police Capt. Derek Pacheco said, noting the danger from flying pieces of metal.

Small pieces of metal were found, leading to the suspicion that a pipe bomb exploded, said Detective Tom Poy. But there weren't enough pieces to determine the type of bomb or how it was set off, he said.

The bomb was set in an opening in a hollow tile concrete block that made up part of a wall surrounding air-conditioning units, Poy said. The bomb cracked only the concrete block, he said.

The area is off-limits to students and none were nearby at the time, Lee said.

Anyone with information about the explosion is asked to call Poy at 961-2382 or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300.

In the January incident, a bomb blew a trash can apart, sending metal flying, Lee said.

A 17-year-old boy was charged with criminal property damage in the case, police said.

In an unrelated incident, a student brought an air gun onto the campus two weeks ago, Lee said. He is being dealt with under the state Gun-Free Schools Act, which provides for expulsion and possible criminal charges, she said.

Despite the incidents, Lee said, "I think it's a safe school. It has all the problems of a normal high school in today's world. I certainly feel safe."

Right across the street, sporadic cases of students bringing BB guns and real guns to Keaau Middle School have been reported since 2002.

At the suggestion of police, a workshop for parents on guns at school was recently held at Keaau Middle School, Capt. Pacheco said.

"We stress gun safety at home," he said.

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