Yule Package Blown Up at Stanford Lab

Bomb experts Friday blew up a mystery Christmas-wrapped package left outside Stanford University’s Research Animal Facility, a school spokesman said.

The shoe box-size package, wrapped in blue Christmas paper and tied with a black ribbon, was discovered outside the entrance at 12:27 a.m. by an animal facility employee leaving the building.

A note attached to the package said: “To Dr. Ham (sic) and associates. Have a bomb this Christmas.” Dr. Thomas Hamm is director of the Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine at Stanford.

The facility has been the target of animal rights protesters during demonstrations at Stanford, but there have been no incidents of violence at the building.

Shortly after the package was discovered, a caller to the news media took responsibility for it and identified himself as a member of the Animal Liberation Front.

Authorities evacuated the building while San Jose Police Department bomb disposal experts rushed to the scene. It was decided to detonate the package after X-rays showed wires and batteries inside. It was blown up at 5:35 a.m. without causing a large explosion, said Sgt. Philip Love of the Stanford Public Safety Department.