Newly released photos depict Unabomber's craft

Investigators say bombs show Kaczynski's 'signature'

SAN FRANCISCO (CNN) -- Recently-released photographs filed in the Unabomb case give the first public look at parts of the actual bombs detonated over a 16-year period.

Federal prosecutors say the photos link Theodore Kaczynski to the 18-year span of Unabomber attacks that killed three and injured 23.

"This is the signature of the Unabomber, and these are the kinds of things that we saw before," Capt. Nick Concolino said.

For instance, the initials "FC" were found on eight bombs. Investigators say they found letters in Kaczynski's cabin in which he claimed credit as "FC" for three other bombings.

Kaczynski was arrested in April 1996 following a search of his Montana cabin.

Concolino, an early Unabomb investigator, says there was another signature. Each bomb was unique and crafted nearly entirely by hand.

"The body, although it's hollowed out, is wood. We have metal on both sides, we have wire, we have soldiering work. We have flexible switches. These are now unique, one of a kind items. You can't go out and say you bought these," he said.

A triggering switch depicted in the photos came from the bomb that injured University of California at San Francisco geneticist Charles Epstein.

Another switch came from the bomb that maimed Yale computer scientist David Gelernter.

Investigators found four switches in Kaczynski's cabin, all of which appear similar.

And there was another signature: an unusual use of metal pins to secure end caps on the bombs. "When it finally did fail, and explode, it exploded at higher velocities and (could) be much more deadly," Concolino says.

Kaczynski is charged with four bombing attacks in California. But prosecutors say the bomb parts and Kaczynski's own writings tie him to all of the Unabomber attacks. And they want to use evidence from all 16 attacks to try to convict him.

His defense lawyers Tuesday told a judge the media should not be allowed to see certain evidence -- such as portions of Kaczynski's journal -- because it could hurt jury selection. The prosecution agrees.

The judge did not immediately rule on the request. The evidence, which includes journal entries and documents seized from Kaczynski's cabin, has yet to be permitted for use at his trial, scheduled for November.

• Unabomber Timeline
• 1996 Year in Review: Unabomber - Summary, CNN Interactive Stories, Related Sites
• Newsmaker Profiles: Theodore Kaczynski
• Video Almanac - 1996, Unabomber suspect charged
• Message Boards: Unabomb case

Search for related CNN stories:   [Help] Tip: You can restrict your search to the title of a document. Example: title:New Year's Resolutions

Sound off on our message boards Tell us what you think! You said it...

© 1997 Cable News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.

Terms under which this service is provided to you.