New explosion reported as details emerge on Oct. 7 blast in Bristol

By THOMAS P. CALDWELL, LACONIA DAILY SUN

BRISTOL — Police have ruled out a connection between an Oct. 7 explosion that led to the felony arrest of a New Hampton resident and another explosion reported on Oct. 28.

Lt. Kristopher Bean said the latest report, about a 7:25 p.m. blast that shook homes on Saturday, did not occur in Bristol. He said the Alexandria Police Department was looking into whether the incident took place there.

Bean said his investigation into the original complaint, which led to the arrest of Kyle Lyford, 22, of New Hampton, on felony counts of reckless conduct and riot, showed that it did not involve Tannerite, as many people have speculated.

The binary explosive material that Lyford allegedly used for the explosion on Morrison Road in Bristol was purchased online in 50-pound increments, Bean said.

Steve Yerger, a representative of Tannerite, pointed out that Tannerite is a company trademark, not the explosive material itself. Tannerite makes Tannerite Brand Binary Rifle Targets that emit a visible vapor to let the shooter know that the target has been hit.

Binary explosives are pre-packaged products or explosives that people make on their own, usually comprising an oxidizer like ammonium nitrate and a fuel such as aluminum or another metal, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Because they are separate products, they do not meet the federal definition of “explosives” and therefore the ATF does not regulate their sale and distribution.

Once they are combined, the resulting mixture is an explosive material subject to federal regulations. Those manufacturing their own explosives for personal use are not required to have a federal explosives license or permit. However, felons, those under indictment, fugitives from justice, those addicted to controlled substances, those having been declared mentally defective, and non-citizens are prohibited from possessing explosives.

Bean said the reckless conduct and riot charges filed against Lyford are felonies because they involve a deadly weapon.

Lakes Region residents posting on Facebook reported two explosions on Oct. 7, saying the blasts frightened their children, their pets, and elderly residents. Other posts defended the explosions as being legal and harmless.

There is new uncertainty about Saturday’s explosion which was felt over a wide area but with places between them reporting no noise or vibration.

In addition to residents of Alexandria, there were reports from Meredith, New Hampton, Ashland, Center Harbor, Moultonborough, Bridgewater, Plymouth, Holderness, Campton, and North Groton.

One Ashland resident said the blast caused his windows to rattle, and he first thought it might have been an earthquake.

Alexandria police officers investigating the complaints were unable to find any evidence of an explosion in that town.