FBI investigating explosives found outside cellphone stores in Sault Michigan

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is looking for information after suspicious packages containing explosive devices were found outside of cellphone stores in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. and Cheboygan, Mich. Thursday. 

Law enforcement officers and bomb technicians from the Michigan State Police and the FBI responded to the locations and removed the explosive devices from both scenes. No injuries have been reported, according to a release.  

Both devices were inside USPS Priority Mail boxes with threatening notes addressed to Verizon and AT&T. The notes were signed either ‘HJ’ or ‘Handcuff Johnny.’ The letters ‘CMT’ were written on each box.

FBI and Michigan State Police believe the explosive devices are related to a number of letters discovered in the Upper Peninsula last month. The letters, claiming to be from the Coalition for Moral Telecommunications (CMT), were found at multiple telecommunications tower sites across the Upper Peninsula. 

The letters made specific demands to the telecommunications companies.

The investigation is being worked jointly by the FBI, Michigan State Police, Cheboygan Police Department, Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Office, Sault Ste. Marie Police Department, and Sault Ste. Marie Tribal Police.