Chemical Plant Explosion Was Sabotage

Early this morning
the Chemical Safety Investigative Office (CSIO) announced that it had
determined that last week’s explosion at the Ravard Refinery in Los Angelas was
the result of sabotage. Trevor Kletz, spokesperson for CSIO told reporters that:
“Investigators have found a device on a pump in the crude oil distillation unit
that is believed to be the source of the explosion.”

Background
information provided by CISO on the device explained that that the singed
remains were relatively intact because of where it was placed on the pump
motor. The device consisted of an energy
harvesting circuit, a flammable gas sensor, and a capacitor. Investigators
from the National Critical Infrastructure Security Operations Center (CI-SOC)
confirmed that the device was programed to short out the capacitor, producing
an electric spark, when the gas sensor detected a flammable atmosphere. Gen. Turgidson,
CI-SOC Director, confirmed that his team had been able to recover programming
data from chips on the device that enable them to determine the way the device
operated. “No communications were necessary to initiate the explosion, it was
entirely automated,” Turgidson explained; “when the conditions were right for
the spark to do the most damage, the device shorted out the capacitor.”

Shortly after the
CISO announcement was made, a radical environmental group, Students for
Immediate Neutralization of Chlorine Technology and Energy Reversion (SFINCTER),
claimed responsibility for the attack. The social media claim stated: “We have begun
a new engagement in our struggle against the corporate polluters responsible
for the devastating changes in our climate. This is just the beginning.”

Johnathan Quest, spokesperson
for the Federal Bureau of Inquiry confirmed that the FBI had assumed control of
the investigation of the refinery incident. “Now that this is confirmed to be a
terrorist attack, the full weight of the Bureau will be employed to find the
perpetrators and bring them to justice,” Quest announced.

John Muir,
spokesperson for the Ravard Refinery, noted that there was significant damage to
the crude oil distillation unit and the refinery was completely shutdown until
that unit could be restored. “While there was little or no damage to other
operating units, there will be no fuel or other chemicals produced here until
that unit is back in operation.” Muir explained.

Gasoline prices on
the West Coast, already the highest in the nation, are expected to rise sharply
as the Ravard refinery is about 20% of the West Coast’s refinery capacity. The
Governor’s Office on Climate Change (COCC) noted that: “This is just another
reason why it is so critical for the State to develop and support alternative transportation
fuels.”CAUTIONARY NOTE:
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