A Home Depot in Huntington, Long Island was evacuated Monday afternoon after an "improvised explosive device" was found, and investigators believe the crude pipe bomb may have been planted as part of an equally crude extortion attempt. It was discovered after managers opened a letter informing them that there was a bomb planted in the store, and demanding $2 million in cash. The letter also warned that more bombs would appear in other Home Depots if the money wasn't paid by Black Friday.
The bomb did not have a timer attached, but authorities tell NBC New York that it could have detonated if someone had opened the box it was in. (The Suffolk County Bomb Squad detonated it safely later that night.) CBS reports that one person was questioned and released.
The good news is the Home Depot is back open for business, and Strong Island consumers aren't about to let a little bomb scare stop them from spending their weekend remodeling the breakfast nook. "It won't affect me shopping here," one Mastic Beach home improver tells Newsday. "This is convenient, and I'll be back." Oh, FINE, why not:
