Bomb at Atlanta nightclub injures 5; 2nd bomb found nearby

FBI spokesman: There may be a serial bomber

ATLANTA (CNN) -- Federal investigators were looking at the possibility of a serial bomber after five people were injured Friday night in an explosion at a nightclub -- the fourth blast in Atlanta in seven months.

The bomb fired large nails into the crowd. A second bomb was found in a backpack outside the building, but it was detonated by police.

There are similarities among the four bombings, which include last summer's fatal explosion at Centennial Olympic Park during the Olympic Games.

"Everybody just froze," said bartender Rhonda Armstrong, who was mixing drinks at The Otherside Lounge when she saw a flash and heard the explosion. "It sounded like a cannon in a circus."

"We will be searching out the possibility that we have a serial bomber," said Woody Johnson of the FBI .

"This is eerily reminiscent of last summer and last month," Mayor Bill Campbell said at a news conference Saturday morning. "We clearly believe we're dealing with a deranged killer, but one who is very clever."
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'It shook the whole floor'

Campbell said it was unknown if the blast was related to a double bombing in January at a suburban Atlanta clinic where abortions are performed or the July bombing of Centennial Olympic Park, which killed one person and injured more than 100. Both cases are unsolved.

The pipe bomb that went off during the Summer Olympics was contained in a backpack, and also was packed with nails.

Campbell said a woman who had surgery Saturday morning was the most seriously wounded, but her injuries were not life-threatening.

"The injuries to the other four were fairly minor. They were treated and released," the mayor said. Hospital officials said the injuries ranged from nail wounds to pain in the ears.

Ambulance attendant Steve Yancey said one victim was a 28-year-old woman who had a nail, up to 4 inches long, in her right arm, and had lost "a significant amount of blood."

Authorities said Friday's explosion occurred about 10 p.m. in a rear patio of nightclub just north of downtown. About 150 people were in the club.

"I heard this big explosion," said Jason Overby, who was in a nearby building. "It shook the whole floor. I mean it shook me."

Similar to clinic explosions

Police Chief C.B. Jackson said police arrived at the scene after receiving a call that two people had been shot at the nightclub. However, upon arrival, police determined an explosive device filled with nails and shrapnel had gone off.

Jackson said a package found near the side of the building also contained a bomb. Authorities detonated the device in a police detonation container. (337 K/8 sec. QuickTime movie)

Friday night's bombing seemed similar to the clinic explosions, where one bomb hit the clinic and another blew up outside as rescuers rushed to the scene.

At the nightclub blast, police sealed off traffic to a six-block, mostly commercial area of restaurants, nightclubs and businesses shortly after the blast. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms also was involved in the investigation.

Related stories:

• Feds: Recent Atlanta bombings the work of different people - January 23, 1997
• Explosion damages Atlanta family planning clinic - January 17, 1997
• Blasts probed at Atlanta family planning clinic - January 16, 1997
• Backpack crops up on Olympic video - December 14, 1996
• Sources unsure if photo will aid Olympic Park bombing case - December 11, 1996
• $500,000 reward offered for Olympic Park bomber - December 9, 1996

Special Section:

• CNN's Olympic Bombing Page

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