Terrorist charges upheld by grand jury

A local man was indicted by the September grand jury for making a terrorist threat at a local trailer park earlier this year.

Neil Myron Larkins, Jr., 30, 4635 Gravel Hill Road, Phil Campbell, was indicted on charges of making a terrorist threat and falsely reporting an incident.

According to officials, a 911 call was placed about 4 p.m. on March 11 stating there was a situation involving a bomb at the Town and Country Trailer Park in Russellville.

Reports state that Larkins informed a resident of the trailer park that he had a pipe cylinder with wires coming from both ends.

He then stated that if the resident called the police, he would blow the whole city up because the pipe cylinder contained C4 explosives. 

Officials said that despite the defendant’s warning, the resident called 911 to inform law enforcement of the threat.

After officers with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation arrived at the scene, residents of the trailer park were evacuated as a precaution.

Technicians with the Florence Police Department’s bomb squad were called to diffuse the bomb, officials said.

According to reports, two devices were discovered at the scene and both were rendered inactive.

Larkins was taken into custody without incident.

According to Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing, Larkins is scheduled for arraignment on Oct. 26 and his case will be set for the December trial docket.