Provo detectives have decided to call in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to assist in the investigation of a pipe bombing that destroyed the car of a Brigham Young University student Monday.
Police say they are investigating the incident as an attempted homicide, but as of Wednesday morning they were still not discussing any possible suspects or motives for the bombing. Police believe two pipe bombs were planted inside the car of Phil Hatch, 22, Provo. The bombs exploded shortly after noon while Hatch was working under the hood in the parking lot of Windsor East Apartments, 776 E. 750 North.According to witnesses, Hatch's car had been overheating and he moved it across the parking lot to an area near some grass to inspect it. He opened the hood and noticed some wires tangled in the fan belt.
When he pulled on the wires, the inside of the car exploded and ignited in flames. Hatch was not injured, but police said he likely would have been killed had he been in the car.
Hatch is originally from Detroit, Mich., and his family recently moved to Oregon, his roommates said. Hatch was moving out of Windsor East Apartments when the blast occurred, and his car was filled with many of his personal belongings.