Police and federal agents are taking very seriously what they think was a fake bomb found near a local synagogue, Muskogee Police Chief Rex Eskridge said. It had what looked like a timer and lead device attached, he said.Federal ATF officers have taken all the components and will analyze them to determine whether the device had the capability of exploding.

Eskridge said the incident “is a very serious deal.” If suspects are identified, the case could be prosecuted in either state courts or could be prosecuted in federal court as a hate crime. “We’re going to take it very seriously, as well as the feds are going to take it very seriously,” he said. “We’re going to investigate it and see what we can come up with. Even if it’s just a prank, it’s still a pretty vicious prank.”

(Source: Daily Phoenix)