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Cops Capture "Bishop" Bomber

Dubuque man charged with mailing pipe bombs to investment companies

By Colleen Barry,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 26, 2007 8:25 AM CDT

(Newser) – Police nabbed "The Bishop"—the bandit who's been sending unwired pipe bombs to Midwestern investment firms for the last two years—they announced yesterday. John P. Tomkins, a 42-year-old machinist in DuBuque, Iowa, was charged with one count each of mailing an extortion letter and possessing an unregistered explosive device.

Investigators used handwriting, financial records, and a glimpse of Tompkins's car window, caught in a photo accompanying one of the bombs, to narrow in on their suspect. A search of his home and a nearby storage unit yesterday afternoon turned up multiple packages containing bombs, which were detonated by authorities at the site.


In this undated handout image from television provided by KWWL-TV, Waterloo, Iowa, is John P. Tomkins is shown. Tomkins, 42, was arrested Wednesday, April 25, 2007, in Dubuque, Iowa, and charged with sending dud pipe bombs and threatening letters to investment companies in Denver and Kansas City in an effort...
In this undated handout image from television provided by KWWL-TV, Waterloo, Iowa, is John P. Tomkins is shown. Tomkins, 42, was arrested Wednesday, April 25, 2007, in Dubuque, Iowa, and charged with...   (Associated Press)
Law enforcement authorities, including U.S. Postal Inspectors, search for evidence at a storage unit, Wednesday, April 25, 2007, in Dubuque, Iowa.  John P. Tomkins, of Dubuque, Iowa, was arrested Wednesday and charged with sending dud pipe bombs and threatening letters to investment companies in Denver and Kansas City in...
Law enforcement authorities, including U.S. Postal Inspectors, search for evidence at a storage unit, Wednesday, April 25, 2007, in Dubuque, Iowa. John P. Tomkins, of Dubuque, Iowa, was arrested Wednesday...   (Associated Press)
Law enforcement authorities, including U.S. Postal Inspectors, load a file cabinet taken from the home of John P. Tomkins Wednesday, April 25, 2007, in Dubuque, Iowa.  Tomkins was arrested Wednesday and charged with sending dud pipe bombs and threatening letters to investment companies in Denver and Kansas City in...
Law enforcement authorities, including U.S. Postal Inspectors, load a file cabinet taken from the home of John P. Tomkins Wednesday, April 25, 2007, in Dubuque, Iowa. Tomkins was arrested Wednesday and...   (Associated Press)
A bomb squad member carries an object from a storage unit, Wednesday, April 25, 2007, in Dubuque, Iowa.  John P. Tomkins, of Dubuque was arrested Wednesday and charged with sending dud pipe bombs and threatening letters to investment companies in Denver and Kansas City in an effort to drive up...
A bomb squad member carries an object from a storage unit, Wednesday, April 25, 2007, in Dubuque, Iowa. John P. Tomkins, of Dubuque was arrested Wednesday and charged with sending dud pipe bombs and...   (Associated Press)
A bomb squad robot sits near an object after it was detonated by bomb squad members at a storage unit, Wednesday, April 25, 2007, in Dubuque, Iowa.  John P. Tomkins, of Dubuque was arrested Wednesday and charged with sending dud pipe bombs and threatening letters to investment companies in Denver...
A bomb squad robot sits near an object after it was detonated by bomb squad members at a storage unit, Wednesday, April 25, 2007, in Dubuque, Iowa. John P. Tomkins, of Dubuque was arrested Wednesday...   (Associated Press)
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