Authorities investigate pipe bomb near home



UNIONTOWN, Pa. (AP) -- Federal agents and state police are trying to find out who left a pipe bomb in a package outside a residence over the weekend, prompting the evacuation of surrounding homes.
The device was found outside a home in Uniontown, about 40 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, at about 7:15 p.m. Saturday. The home and others nearby were evacuated for more than six hours until a bomb squad from neighboring Allegheny County arrived to blow up the device.
Police Chief Kyle Sneddon said he did not believe the device was intended to harm the elderly couple who lived in the nearest house, but declined to say why he believed that.
"I don't think it ended up where it was on purpose," Sneddon said. "I don't know why it was where it was at."
One witness told police that the package had been in the area since at least May 22.
The package, about the size of a shoe box, was wrapped in brown paper and black tape. A live pipe bomb with wires coming from it was protruding from the package, according to a police report.
The FBI and federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were investigating.
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