Incident Summary:
12/11/1985: A pipe bomb exploded outside Ren Tech Computer Rentals, a store located in a shopping center in a suburb of Sacramento, California in the United States. The explosion killed the owner of the store, Hugh Campbell Scrutton, as the bomb, which was disguised as a package, detonated as Scrutton touched the package that was placed at the rear door of his store. The perpetrator of this incident was later identified to be Ted Kaczynski, also known as the "Unabomber." Kaczynski was responsible for a bombing campaign of over a dozen bombs sent to a number of targets including mostly universities and airlines between 1987 and 1995. He was eventually arrested, charged, and sentenced to life in prison.
Overview
GTD ID:
198512110011
When:
1985-12-11
Country:
United States
Region:
North America
Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:
California
City:
Sacramento
Location Details:
1 outside computer rental store in shopping center in suburb of Sacramento
What
Attack Information
Type of Attack () |
Bombing/Explosion |
Successful Attack? () |
Yes |
Target Information ()
Target Type: Business |
Name of Entity |
Ren Tech Computer Rentals |
Specific Description |
computer rental store in suburb of Sacramento, California |
Nationality of Target |
United States |
Target Type: Business |
Name of Entity |
Hugh Campbell Scrutton |
Specific Description |
Hugh Campbell Scrutton, owner of a computer rental store |
Nationality of Target |
United States |
Additional Information
Hostages |
No |
Ransom |
No |
Property Damage |
Yes |
Extent of Property Damage |
Minor (likely < $1 million) |
Value of Property Damage |
Unknown |
How
Weapon Information
Type |
Sub-type |
Explosives |
Letter Bomb |
Weapon Details |
pipe bomb wrapped in paper and tied with strings, made to look like a parcel |
Additional Information
Suicide Attack? | No |
Part of Multiple Incident? | No |
Criterion 1 () |
Yes |
Criterion 2 () |
Yes |
Criterion 3 () |
Yes |
Additional Information |
The explosion occurred at approximately 12:00pm; The perpetrator was later identified as Theodore Kaczynski, known as the "Unabomber." In 1996, he was arrested and indicted for nearly 20 bombings, and the murder of Scrutton as well as 2 others. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole. |
Who
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name |
Claimed Responsibility |
Anti-Technology extremists |
No |
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators |
1 |
Number of Captured Perpetrators |
1 |
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties |
1 Fatalities / 0 Injured |
Total Number of Fatalities |
1 |
Number of U.S. Fatalities |
1 |
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities |
0 |
Total Number of Injured |
0 |
Number of U.S. Injured |
0 |
Number of Perpetrators Injured |
0 |
Sources
Sources
"Mystery Bomber Is Hunted in Series of Blasts," New York Times, February 20, 1986. |
Allan Hall, "Hermit Caged Over 17-Year Bombing Crusade Against Computer Boffins; FBI agents pounce on hermit Ted Kaczynski yesterday ending their 17-year hunt for the mad bomber who held the US to ransom," Scottish Daily Record & Sunday Mail Ltd, New York, April 5, 1996. |
"UPI Context: Attacks attributed to serial bomber," United Press International, December 20, 1985. |
Criteria
Criteria 1
The act must be aimed at attaining a political, economic, religious, or social goal. In terms of economic goals, the exclusive pursuit of profit does not satisfy this criterion. It must involve the pursuit of more profound, systemic economic change.
Criterion 2
There must be evidence of an intention to coerce, intimidate, or convey some other message to a larger audience (or audiences) than the immediate victims. It is the act taken as a totality that is considered, irrespective if every individual involved in carrying out the act was aware of this intention. As long as any of the planners or decision-makers behind the attack intended to coerce, intimidate or publicize, the intentionality criterion is met.
Criterion 3
The action must be outside the context of legitimate warfare activities. That is, the act must be outside the parameters permitted by international humanitarian law (particularly the prohibition against deliberately targeting civilians or non-combatants.
Doubt Terrorism Proper
The existence of a "Yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper?" records reservation, in the eyes of GTD analysts, that the incident in question is truly terrorism. Such uncertainty, however, was not deemed to be sufficient to disqualify the incident from inclusion into the GTD. Furthermore, such a determination of doubt is subsequently coded by GTD analysts as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Alternate Designation
The determination of "yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper" by GTD analysts is coded as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Successful Attack
Success of a terrorist strike is defined according to the tangible effects of the attack. For example, in a typical successful bombing, the bomb detonates and destroys property and/or kills individuals, whereas an unsuccessful bombing is one in which the bomb is discovered and defused or detonates early and kills the perpetrators. Success is not judged in terms of the larger goals of the perpetrators. For example, a bomb that exploded in a building would be counted as a success even if it did not, for example, succeed in bringing the building down or inducing government repression.
Type of Attack
This field captures the general method of attack and often reflects the broad class of tactics used. It consists of the following nine categories:
- Assassination
- Armed Assault
- Unarmed Assault
- Bombing/Explosion
- Hijacking
- Hostage taking (Barricade Incident)
- Hostage taking (Kidnapping)
- Facility / Infrastructure Attack
- Unknown
Target Information
This field captures the general type of target. It consists of the following 22 categories:
- Abortion Related
- Airports & Airlines
- Business
- Government (General)
- Government (Diplomatic)
- Educational Institution
- Food or Water Supply
- Journalists & Media
- Maritime (includes Ports and Maritime facilities)
- Military
- NGO
- Other
- Police
- Private Citizens & Property
- Religious Figures/Institutions
- Telecommunication
- Terrorists
- Tourists
- Transportation (other than aviation)
- Unknown
- Utilities
- Violent Political Parties