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Prosecutors say alleged Woburn ATM bomber looked up articles about blast
Christopher Silva is due for arraignment next week on a charge of maliciously damaging property used in interstate commerce.
As authorities began investigating a mysterious explosion at a Woburn ATM on Sept. 4, federal prosecutors say the man responsible was looking up news articles about his alleged crime.
Christopher Silva, 43, was arrested at his Stoneham home in late October after investigators allegedly used DNA evidence and surveillance footage to identify him as the culprit.
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A federal grand jury indicted him last month on a charge of maliciously damaging, by means of an explosive, property used in interstate commerce — a crime punishable by at least five years in prison, up to three of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $250,000.
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Silva is scheduled for arraignment Dec. 9. His attorney did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
Prosecutors allege Silva was caught on camera putting a brown or tan-colored object on the bottom of an Eastern Bank ATM on Mishawum Road shortly after 4 a.m. on Sept. 4. He allegedly ran away as the object began smoking, and the subsequent explosion significantly damaged the ATM.
No one was injured in the blast.
According to an affidavit from a Massachusetts State Police trooper assigned to the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force, Silva was wearing a blue balaclava, yellow glasses, and a black jumpsuit at the time. Authorities later recovered some of the clothing from a nearby parking lot and were able to match DNA from the balaclava to Silva, the court document states.
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A search of Silva’s home allegedly turned up a backpack that resembled one the ATM suspect carried, according to the affidavit.
Investigators also seized Silva’s cellphone and, through his Google search history, discovered that he viewed two news articles about the explosion soon after he allegedly blew up the ATM.
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