ANDERSON, S.C. — The FBI has released a photo of a very dangerous discovery in the middle of a South Carolina road: a bomb hidden inside a teddy bear.
Special agents said this was one of six real or hoax bombs placed around the Anderson community between Jan. 24 and Feb. 24 of 2018.
In one of those cases, a father and daughter were driving down a rural highway on Jan. 30, 2018 when they spotted a wicker basket in the middle of the road.
When the father stopped to examine the package, it exploded and burned his leg.
Among the bomb remnants was a piece of paper with Arabic writing and references to Osama bin Laden.
Then on Feb. 15, 2018, a bomb was found hidden inside a teddy bear, which was left in a basket in the middle of a road.
"This was deliberately placed where a child or passerby could have found it," said Special Agent Christopher Derrickson. "Fortunately, someone saw it and knew to call us."
Through its investigation, the FBI said it tied the explosive devices to 26-year-old Wesley Ayers. In Oct. 2018, Ayers pleaded guilty to weapons of mass destruction and firearm charges and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Terrorist Thwarted: Thanks to a multi-agency investigation, a bomber who placed six hoax and real bombs around a rural South Carolina community has been sentenced to federal prison. Pictured is a bomb in a teddy bear. @FBIColumbia https://t.co/kCHuAihs4t pic.twitter.com/Yyq7r6HfLg
— FBI (@FBI) June 17, 2019