Nashville Christmas Day bomber was 'anti-police,' and 'anti-government' police chief says
NASHVILLE, Tenn.--Nashville Mayor John Cooper told city councilmembers on Monday there is a "long journey of recovery ahead of us" as the city looks to rebuild following the Christmas Day bombing.
Mayor Cooper said he expects to speak with other leaders who have endured similar experiences. Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake, also on the briefing, stated Anthony Warner was "anti-police and anti-government," providing a possible motive behind Warner's attack on Christmas morning.
The bombing damaged 45 buildings, Chief Drake stating 7 of them cannot have occupants at this time while 3 others face the potential for immediate demolishment.
Councilmembers also posed questions to Chief Drake surrounding a 2019 incident report taken involving Warner's girlfriend at the time. The woman had contacted police to report Warner was making bombs in his RV and wanted to turn in weapons belonging to Warner. The call resulted in an information report being taken, Chief Drake maintaining there was not much more officers at the time could do.
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Chief Drake said the 2019 report was followed up as with all similar reports such as bomb threats at schools or establishments. "We follow up as much as we can with all these incidents," Chief Drake said. "We had nothing leading to his desire to blow up anything."
Chief Drake added "There was an expectation of privacy....officers went there several times, they knocked on the door. They turned it over to special investigations detectives...it all came back negative." Drake says officers would have been violating his rights during 2019 incident. "We could not enter his house without probable cause," Drake says. "They (officers) did everything they could."
An after-action report is being conducted by police both on the 2019 incident and on the Christmas Day bombing which MNPD will share once completed. Chief Drake says the bombing was not deemed to be a terrorist act by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). "They feel this person may not have been politically motivated," Drake said.
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