Campus Alert Archive
TTC

A Real Bomb With Nails Found in Bushes Near Trident Tech's Student Center Three Days Before Christmas

SCbomb threatemergency notificationmedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

On December 17, 2012, an anonymous email sent to Trident Technical College accounts warned that a bomb in a plastic bag had been placed in bushes near the Student Center on the Rivers Avenue campus in North Charleston, South Carolina. When bomb technicians responded, they found an actual improvised device containing ammonium nitrate, an ignition source, and steel nails taped to it. The campus was evacuated around 5 p.m. and the device was rendered safe by a bomb squad. William Gregory McGrath, 35, of North Charleston, was later arrested and charged with possession of a threat to use a destructive device.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
0
Institution
Trident Technical College
Community College · SC
Trident Tech Emergency Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Approximate reconstruction264 chars
Trident Technical College Alert: A credible bomb threat has been received for the Rivers Avenue campus. The campus is being evacuated immediately. Do not enter any campus buildings. Leave the area now and follow directions from campus security and law enforcement.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Campus officials received an anonymous email around 4 p.m. EST on December 17, 2012, warning of a bomb in a plastic bag near the Student Center; the evacuation began around 5 p.m. after law enforcement determined the threat was credible
The email stated in all caps that a 'REAL BOMB' had been placed on campus, giving a precise location near the Student Center on Rivers Avenue
Because December 17 was just ahead of the Christmas break, few students or staff were on campus, limiting potential casualties significantly
ALL CLEAREmail
Approximate reconstruction223 chars
Trident Technical College Alert: All clear. The suspicious device has been located and rendered safe by the bomb squad. The campus will remain closed tonight. Further information will be provided regarding campus reopening.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

The device found in bushes outside the Student Center contained ammonium nitrate -- the same compound used in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing -- plus an igniting source and nails taped around the exterior
Investigators traced the threatening email to a computer in Russia, though they believed the message had been rerouted from a terminal elsewhere, complicating the origin investigation
Context

Background

Trident Technical College is a large community college serving the Charleston, South Carolina metro area across multiple campuses. The Rivers Avenue campus in North Charleston is the college's main location. On December 17, 2012 -- three days before the Christmas break would have ended the semester anyway -- an anonymous email in all-capital letters arrived in Trident Tech inboxes claiming a real bomb had been placed in bushes near the Student Center. Law enforcement responded and confirmed the threat was credible. When bomb technicians searched the area, they found an actual improvised explosive device inside a plastic bag: the device contained ammonium nitrate (the same compound used in the 1995 Oklahoma City Federal Building bombing), an ignition source, and steel nails taped around the exterior. The campus was evacuated and the device was rendered safe. William Gregory McGrath, 35, of North Charleston, was subsequently arrested and charged with possession of a threat to use a destructive device; police also found marijuana at his apartment. Investigators traced the anonymous email to a computer in Russia, though authorities believed it had been rerouted from a terminal elsewhere, and the motive remained unclear. The timing at the end of the semester meant the campus was largely empty, limiting the potential for casualties. The incident was one of the very few documented cases in the 2010-2016 era where a campus bomb threat resulted in the discovery of a functional device.
Outcome
Real improvised explosive device found and rendered safe by bomb squad. No injuries. Campus evacuated. McGrath arrested and charged. Email origin traced to a Russian-rerouted terminal.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    Sheriff: Device found at Trident Tech contained ammonium nitrate, nails (Live 5 News)
    live5news.com
  2. News
    Motive behind threat a mystery: Bomb found at Trident Tech (Post and Courier)
    postandcourier.com
  3. News
    North Charleston Man Charged in Trident Tech Bomb Threat Case (Charleston Patch)
    patch.com
Tags
bomb-threatreal-deviceammonium-nitratecommunity-collegesouth-carolinanorth-charlestoncriminal-charge2012christmas-break
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion