N.H. man accused of planting 3 pipe bombs under neighbor's porch
03/14/2023 2:36 pm PDT
LACONIA, N.H. (TCD) -- A 53-year-old man is being held without bond after he allegedly planted several pipe bombs under his neighbor's porch.
Laconia Police Chief Matt Canfield told WMUR-TV his department received a call Sunday, March 12, about a suspicious package near a home on Oak Street. Police went to the scene and located the package, which Canfield said was "potentially explosive."
Video doorbell footage allegedly showed Tirar Tortorello placing the bomb under the porch.
Police told residents of the apartment building to shelter in place, so they were forced to stay inside for about five hours. WMUR reports the New Hampshire State Police Bomb Squad came to the scene and used a robot to X-ray and remove the pipe bombs from under the residence.
Canfield said, "The device was transported off-site to a safe location, where it was detonated and, indeed, identified as explosive and potentially dangerous."
He explained the device was actually three pipe bombs taped together as one.
According to the Laconia Daily Sun, Tortorello reportedly told police he left the package, but in court, his public defender argued, "There is no indication that Mr. Tortorello knew what was inside the package."
Tortorello reportedly lived with a friend who resided in the apartment building.
Belknap County Jail records show Tortorello is being held on three counts of possession of an infernal machine.
MORE:
TRUE CRIME DAILY: THE PODCAST covers high-profile and under-the-radar cases every week. Subscribe to our YouTube page for podcasts, exclusive videos, and more, and don’t forget to follow us on TikTok.
