'Unprecedented threat': Bomb discovered under water at Alabama dam



Big Creek Lake is a 3,600-acre man-made reservoir that holds 17 billion gallons of water and serves as the main source of drinking water for Mobile, Alabama, and other nearby municipalities, producing roughly 60 million gallons of potable water a day.

Apparently, someone wanted to blow up the dam holding it all back.

'We are fortunate that this device was discovered before it could cause serious damage.'

Divers conducting a routine repair at the dam hemming in the lake, which is also called the Converse Reservoir, discovered an explosive device hidden under water on Tuesday, according to Alabama's largest water utility, the Mobile Area Water and Sewer System.

Following the discovery of an apparent grenade-type IED at the dam, the MAWSS alerted the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, reported Al.com. The sheriff's office subsequently initiated a multi-agency response — which included FBI, Mobile Police Department, and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency bomb squads as well as the Daphne Search and Rescue Team — to secure and neutralize the device.

The Gulf Coast Regional Maritime Response and Render-Safe Team ultimately retrieved and detonated the IED.

The reservoir — public access to which MAWSS has been fighting to restrict — and the dam are federally designated critical infrastructure.

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Mobile, Alabama. Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images

"Our top priority is keeping your drinking water safe," MAWSS Director Bud McCrory said in a statement. "This is an unprecedented threat, and we are fortunate that this device was discovered before it could cause serious damage to our water supply or harm to individuals."

"We are grateful for the professionalism and competency of our law enforcement partners — as well as the quick thinking of our contractors and divers — in identifying this device and safely destroying it," added McCrory.

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Man pulls up to his house, spots burglar taking items from it. Suspect allegedly charges at homeowner, who's trying to hold him — so homeowner shoots him.



A homeowner in Mobile, Alabama, pulled up to his house last week and spotted a burglar taking items from the residence and its detached garage, WALA-TV reported.

What happened next?

Police told the station the homeowner tried to hold the burglar — but the suspect got aggressive and charged at the homeowner.

With that, the homeowner shot the suspect, WALA said, adding that the incident took place around 6:40 p.m. Tuesday in the 100 block of North Ann Street.

After getting treatment for a gunshot wound, police arrested Johnny Bullard Jr., 42, and took him to Mobile County Metro Jail, the station said.

Bullard was charged with third-degree burglary, and jail records indicate he was still behind bars as of Monday afternoon.

Police said the homeowner who pulled the trigger won't be charged at this time and that people have a right under state law to defend themselves, WALA reported.

Anything else?

Dina Zirlott, who lives on the street, told the station she was helping her kids study at the time of the incident.

“And we were going over the regions of Alabama when we heard like a loud pop. And we all kind of hunched down at the table ... we weren’t sure what it was,” Zirlott recounted to WAGA.

She and other residents added to the station that the sound of gunfire is a frequent occurrence.

“You do hear some gunfire around this area, and usually it comes from behind us,” she explained to WAGA. “But every once in a while, you’ll hear it coming from around the street. And just a few weeks ago my husband woke us up in the middle of the night because we had a huge police presence on our road.”

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