Minneapolis Man Charged With Leaving Explosive Bag at U of M

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Prosecutors say a former University of Minnesota student left a bag containing gasoline-soaked towels, smoke flares and a lighter in the main student union on the Minneapolis campus.

Thirty-five-year-old Jason Robert Johnson, of Minneapolis, was charged Wednesday with making terroristic threats and possessing explosives with the intent to damage property and cause injuries. The complaint says he admitted leaving the bag inside Coffman Memorial Union on Sunday.

University of Minnesota Police Chief Matt Clark says the bag held 14 smoke flares with fuses inserted in them, wrapped in towels. He says the materials could have caused a huge fire. He did not give a motive for Johnson's actions.

The complaint says Johnson made suicidal comments to police.