Another bomb found in Auburn

A pipe bomb found early Tuesday morning behind the Auburn office of the Department of Motor Vehicles prompted the FBI and local law enforcement to evacuate businesses in the area. No one was hurt when authorities detonated the bomb hours later.What was originally considered a "suspicious package" turned out to be a bomb, the third incident of its kind in Auburn this year and the second in three days.Officials have not said if the most recent bomb is connected to the Earth Liberation Front, an eco-terrorist group that has claimed responsibility for previous firebomb plantings in Placer County."It appears to be a pipe bomb with elbow PVC piping, duct tape on the ends with gunpowder in it," said Kelly Baraga, spokeswoman for the California Highway Patrol. "There were wires or antennas sticking out of it."A DMV employee arriving to work at her Enterprise Street office said she noticed a small package at the back door."I came to work and saw a black bag at the back door. I've read about the recent bombs (in Auburn) and called 911," said Kathleen Pruett-Shingleton. "It's unbelievable. I don't understand why people would do this."Members of the Placer County Sheriff's Department's bomb squad used a bomb robot to investigate. They determined that the device found in a black garbage bag contained gunpowder.Within hours the squad detonated the bomb with the aid of the robot by placing a small charge into the package. It is not known at this time if the device had the potential to explode or what damage it could have caused to the building.Auburn Police Department officials, who were among the first to respond, evacuated several businesses around the DMV on Tuesday."I looked out the window and saw all this activity and called APD," said Davina Weaver, manager at Pacific Fitness Center, located just yards away from the DMV. 'They told us to vacate the building. It's pretty unnerving."The most recent attack on Auburn comes two days after an incendiary device was found on the steps of the Placer County Historic Courthouse in Old Town Auburn. That device, found Sunday by a passerby, appeared to some to be a fertilizer bomb, although FBI officials have declined to comment on the specifics.Tuesday's bomb planting comes on the heels of the arrest of Newcastle resident Ryan Lewis, 21, who was charged with suspicion of arson and attempted arson of a commercial building last week.The FBI has connected Lewis to the planting of five firebombs at the Park Hill office building in Auburn Jan. 12. Lewis remains in custody without bail at Sacramento County Jail. He is scheduled to appear Thursday for a bail hearing in federal court in Sacramento.So far no one has been injured in the numerous attacks that began in late December when workers found three firebombs at a Lincoln construction site. Not long after the firebombs were found placed in the Auburn office building under construction, seven firebombs ignited at a Sutter Creek apartment complex Feb. 7 causing extensive structural damage. Penne Usher can be reached at penneu@goldcountrymedia.com.