
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 14, 1994                   TAG: 9409150026
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: HAMPTON                                 LENGTH: Short

SUSPECTED BOMBS CLOSE COURTHOUSE

Three devices believed to be bombs were found Tuesday in the Hampton General District Courthouse, forcing officials to cancel court business for most of the day.

The building was evacuated after someone discovered a device in a second-floor restroom about 11:20 a.m. State police bomb technicians rendered the device safe by 1 p.m., but a bomb-sniffing police dog then found a second and third suspected explosive device.

Authorities did not provide a description of the devices and gave no indication what explosive power, if any, they possessed.

Two loud popping sounds could be heard inside the building. After each, authorities announced the devices had been ``rendered safe'' but said no more. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was investigating.

by CNB