Phelps family wasn’t
Bomb target, police say

Topeka – Police on Tuesday discounted the notion that the family of the Rev. Fred Phelps Sr. was the target of a small bomb that exploded Sunday night in Topeka.

But Phelps, known for his strident anti-homosexual crusade, offered a $5,000 reward for the conviction of those responsible for a blast in the driveway of a house where one of his daughters lives. Phelps also asked U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno to intervene.

No one was injured when the device exploded about 11:30 p.m. at the Topeka home of Shirley Phelps-Roper. The blast caused $1,650 damage to the side of a van and $150 damage to a wooden fence that was about four feet away.

Phelps said he thinks the explosion was a response to the anti-gay picketing he and members of his Westboro Baptist Church conduct in Topeka and nationwide.

However, Topeka Police Lt. Patti Kaeberle said initial police reports don’t indicate that the Phelps family was the target of the blast because at least two other explosions were reported in the same general section of the city that night.

Phelps rejected that idea, saying, “Any bomb anywhere else was a diversionary tactic and they know it.”

He said his church had been the target of “26 or 27 incidents” that included shots fired at the church sign and bricks thrown through church windows.

The bomb site was about two blocks from the church itself, but it was part of a fenced compound that includes the church.

Jim Campbell, assistant Topeka fire chief, said the blast appeared to be caused by “fireworks-type stuff – the kind that comes over from Missouri that is illegal over here.”

Arson investigators were checking the scene Tuesday and interviewing neighbors. Campbell said the department had not received the police report on the blast until Tuesday.

Although other explosions were reported, there were no reports of damage.

Pieces of red plastic were recovered at the Phelps-Roper house. Campbell said they might have been the remains of a box containing the device.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was aware of the explosion and had discussed it with Fire Department officials but did not plan to investigate at this time, Campbell said.

Phelps promised to increase the $5,000 reward “until we get that skunk. Somebody will tell to get that money.”