Georgia: Grenade Tossed at President Bush was 'Live' Says FBI
(Update) An agent for the FBI stated on Wednesday that a grenade thrown towards President George W. Bush while he was delivering a speech at Georgia's Freedom Square on May 10 was live and had only failed to explode due to a malfunction.
According to the AP "A White House spokesman said Secret Service agents in Georgia were examining whether security changes were needed, noting that some people were seen getting around the metal detectors at Bush's May 10 speech"
"We consider this act to be a threat against the health and welfare of both the president of the United States and the president of Georgia as well as the multitude of Georgian people that had turned out at this event," FBI agent Bryan Paarmann told reporters.
Georgian Officials announced a reward of more than $11,000 for information leading to an arrest. They appealed directly to any Georgians who might have seen the incident or taken photographs or video of it to come forward.
The announcement came after an initial report downplaying the incident and suggested an embarrassing, potentially scandalous and irresponsible lapse of security by Georgian officials and the Secret Service. Although spectators were funneled through various metal detectors, the enormous numbers overwhelmed the security measures, and thousands flowed into the square with no more than simple visual checks.
Bush spoke to tens of thousands of people in Freedom Square on May 10, the main plaza in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital. The crowd was overwhelmingly receptive. The President offered strong support of Georgia’s efforts at democratic development following the Rose Revolution of 2003.
Experts from both countries have examined carefully the hand grenade, and will submit a detailed report soon, Paarmann went on to say. He expressed satisfaction at the cooperation of the two investigative bureaus.
Evidently the president was not aware of the grenade report during his visit until Secret Service agents on the plane told him about it as he returned to Andrews Air Force Base.
No arrests have been made in the case, and police have made a public appeal for videotapes that may contain footage of the incident. The Interior Ministry is reportedly offering a reward of £6,000 for information in the case.
Weapons are widespread among the Georgian population, largely due to the unrest that has plagued the ex-Soviet republic over the past decade.
The hand grenade, reportedly wrapped in a dark, colored handkerchief, was thrown at the podium where President Bush stood and landed several feet from him.
