ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, December 31, 1993                   TAG: 9312310035
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short


BOMBER HUNT ENTERS COMPUTER NETWORK

The FBI is stalking a deadly bomber down a different kind of mean street: the information superhighway.

Federal agents have expanded their search for the so-called university bomber to the Internet, a vast network of computers that reaches an estimated 20 million people worldwide.

The task force seeks UNABOM, as the person responsible for 14 bombings since 1978 is known. One man died and 23 people were injured in the attacks.

Most of the bombings were targeted at the computer, aircraft and airline industries and universities. The bombings were in seven states: California, Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee, Utah and Washington.

In the most recent attack, a Yale University computer scientist was injured when a parcel he was opening exploded. In 1985, a Sacramento, Calif., computer rental store owner was killed.

"Internet users are precisely the type of individuals that to date have been recipients of explosive devices attributed to UNABOM," said FBI Special Agent William Tafoya in a notice posted on the computer network. "You are not being asked to place yourself in harm's way. You are encouraged to come forward if you have information."

The FBI placed the information on the Internet using a computer owned by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. People on the Internet can download the information to their own computers or browse through the documents while on line.

The FBI offered a $1 million reward for information leading to conviction of whoever sent the "diabolical devices." "All have caused terror, grief and fear," the FBI told Internet users.



 by CNB