Man carrying homemade bomb dies in explosion in downtown Santiago

SANTIAGO.- A man was severely mutilated and killed early this morning when a homemade bomb he was carrying exploded in downtown Santiago.

The individual was riding his bicycle near the School of Gendarmerie, located on Matta Avenue, when the device he was carrying in his backpack exploded at approximately 1:30 AM. According to Radio Bío Bío, the explosive was made out of a fire extinguisher that had been filled with gunpowder.

After hearing the loud noise, residents in the area awoke and made their way to the scene of the explosion where they encountered the horrifically burned and dismembered body of the man.

Police cornered off the scene after finding tissue remains within a 70 meter radius of the explosion. Authorities are currently investigating to determine the individual's identity and the characteristics of the bomb. Following hours of analysis performed by experts, it is believed that the man may have intended to carry out an attack against the School of Prison Guards.

In addition to the homemade bomb, the man had also been carrying a 38 calibre gun.  According to reports, a phone call had been placed to the School of Gendarmerie before the explosion warning of a possible attack.