Detectives were investigating an apparent act of terrorism aimed at a local adult book store after a homemade device released noxious chemicals inside the shop over the weekend.
Authorities told First Coast News that they discovered a device on Sunday made up of two gallon-size sports drink containers holding noxious chemicals that were connected together by hoses. Vandals set up the device on top of window air conditioning unit with one hose connected to the water spigot and another pushed through a gap in for the air conditioner into the building.
The spigot was then turned, sending the corrosive chemicals into the building, said Sgt. Keith Faulk, of the Alachua County Sheriff’s Dept. A hazardous materials, or Hazmat team was sent into the building to investigate and to cleanup the structure.
Although no one was hurt, damage was estimated at more than $15,000, with an additional $15,000 added from the county for the cost of sending the Hazmat team into the building, authorities said.
Faulk said those responsible, if arrested, face thousands of dollars in fines and more than 30 years in jail for the using of a “weapon of mass destruction.”
