Fremont Man Reported to Be Focus of Bombings Investigation

FREMONT, Calif. — A Fremont man with a background in chemistry and a grudge against police is the focus of an investigation into the bombings that terrorized the town in March, a newspaper reported Saturday.

Five pipe bombs exploded over three days in the town south of San Francisco. Two others were safely detonated. The police chief and a city councilman were among the targets, but no one was hurt.

For six weeks, police have said they have no suspects. But FBI agents have searched one man’s home twice and invited him to appear before a federal grand jury this week, the San Jose Mercury News said. He declined to testify, and was in the process of moving to Southern California this weekend.

In an interview with the newspaper, he said he was aware that he was under scrutiny and felt he was being made a scapegoat.

He said he had accused Police Chief Craig Steckler and Councilman Bob Wasserman of bungling an investigation of a Fremont building official who was later convicted of accepting kickbacks.

But he claims to have been in Orange County during the bombings.