Texas Plant Explosion: Criminal Probe Launched

By Sky News US Team.

Law enforcement officials in Texas have launced a criminal investigation into last month's deadly fertiliser plant explosion in the rural town of West.

Investigators have up to now largely treated the blast that killed 14 people as an industrial accident.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) said in a statement that the agency has instructed the Texas Rangers and the McLennan County Sheriff's Department to launch a criminal probe.

DPS Director Steven McCraw said in a statement he wants to ensure "no stone goes unturned" in the investigation.

The plant blew up on April 17 after a fire erupted at the facility in West, 80 miles (129 km) south of Dallas.

The state fire marshal's office has said that ammonium nitrate stored at the plant detonated in the explosion but that the cause of the fire was still being investigated.

Meanwhile, news of the criminal probe emerged after a paramedic, from West, was charged for possession of an explosive device.

A spokesperson for the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed that authorities arrested 31-year-old Bryce Reed.

He was charged with possessing bomb-making materials, including a pipe, chemicals and fuses.

Officials have not said whether Reed's arrest is linked to the deadly explosion.

The US Attorney's Office said in a statement: "Authorities will not speculate whether the possession of the unregistered destructive device has any connection to the West fertiliser plant explosion on April 17."

Bryce and Brittany Reed told Reuters last month they were listening to music at their home when they heard the town's siren and jumped into their truck to warn people nearby.

"Get your kids and go!" the couple said they shouted at residents of an apartment complex near the plant.

They said they were about 45 to 70 metres from the plant when the blast rocked their car.

Bryce Reed said that his home was destroyed and that he lost his best friend, volunteer firefighter Cyrus Reed, in the blast.

The two are not related, but were so close they considered each other brothers, Reed said at the time.

"There's no words to convey the magnitude of this incident," he added.

Source: Sky News: http://news.sky.com/story/1089402/texas-plant-explosion-criminal-probe-launched