Bombing hoax connected to Lilbourn bank robbery

The three suspects in the bombing hoax that tied up Cape Girardeau police for hours last Friday are also suspected of a bank robbery in Lilbourn, Mo., several hours later, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

A news release from the FBI said three males robbed the Bank of New Madrid in Lilbourn. Two of the suspects entered the bank and demanded an undisclosed amount of money, said Special Agent Stephen L. Morris in a prepared statement.

Lilbourn police officers pursued the suspects on foot when they fled the scene and apprehended two of them.

The third suspect evaded authorities for several hours. Police caught up with him in a wooded area of Lilbourn.

The FBI said its investigation revealed the plot began in Cape Girardeau, allegedly with the series of six bomb threats meant to divert police attention while the men robbed a local bank. There was no bank robbery in Cape Girardeau, however.

The Cape Girardeau Police Department, Central Middle School, Central High School, the Montessori School, the post office, and Chateau Girardeau retirement community all received threats.

Police received calls saying that a bomb would explode outside each facility in 15 minutes.

The Southeast Missouri Bomb Squad, Cape Girardeau police, Federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearm agents and FBI agents responded to the various building, and law enforcement officers searched each of the locations.

Cape Girardeau police intitially said they located only one fake explosive device, near the basketball court at the middle school, but four hoax devices were eventually discovered, including one at the post office, according to the FBI.

The suspects are in custody awaiting formal federal charges.

Charges are anticipated to be made in connection with the bomb threats, planting the phony devices and the bank robbery.