Harvey's Resort Hotel bombing

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On August 26, 1980, three men planted a bomb containing 1,200 pounds of dynamite at Harvey's Resort Hotel in Stateline, Nevada. The mastermind behind the bomb, John Birges, was attempting to extort $3 million from the casino. The bomb was cleverly built and virtually tamper proof. After studying the bomb through x-rays, bomb technicians decided that the best hope of disarming it was by separating the detonators from the dynamite. They thought they could do this using a shaped charge of C-4. The attempt to disarm it failed. The bomb exploded destroying much of the casino. However, no one was injured.

[edit] References

• Reno Gazette Journal, http://www.rgj.com/extra/harveys.php