MILWAUKEE -- Two bombs that exploded in the downtown area Thursday, injuring a city employee, appear to be linked to a string of 13 pipe bombs planted in Wisconsin and Minnesota since the weekend, authorities said.

An unexploded pipe bomb found later in Chicago appears to be similar to the bombs found in Wisconcin and Minnesota, police said.


That bomb was found on a parking lot and was 'the same type found in Milwaukee and Minnesota,' said Bomb and Arson Commander Edward Nickels. That bomb did not have a note attached to it as the others have, police said.

The first bomb was discovered about 8 a.m. CDT near the Milwaukee Public Museum. Police said they are looking for a man seen near the bombing site shortly before the explosion.

Gary Reck, a city gardener, was about 90 feet from city employee Jill Binon when the bomb exploded. He said it was in a paper bag with a dollar bill attached to it by a paper clip. When Ms. Binon bent over to grab the bill, the bomb exploded, Reck said.

A note attached to the bomb, and some of the 13 other bombs, was signed by the 'North Central Gay Strike Force against Public and Police Oppression.'

Authorities say they have never heard of such a group and suspect one person planted the bombs in La Crosse, Wis., and Stillwater and St. Cloud, Minn., during the weekend.

'It (the note) was the same thing as the ones found in La Crosse,' Lt. Carl Ruscitti said. He described the bomb as a '6-inch galvanized piece of steel' similar to the pipe bombs found in Minnesota.

The second bomb was found about two hours later in an alley near the Milwaukee Journal newspaper, about six blocks from the museum. Police tried to defuse it, but the bomb went off. No one was injured and no note was discovered.

The first bomb exploded, but not at full force.

Ms. Binon, 22, a city employee picking up litter, suffered minor facial burns when the first bomb exploded. She was treated for the burns and ringing in her ears.

'It (the first bomb) is obviously that of somebody deranged because if the thing would have gone off like it was intended to, it would have killed her,' Ruscitti said.

Miss Binton said after the explosion her eyes were burning badly and her ears were sensitive and aching hours after the incident.

'I couldn't believe it,' she said. 'I have played with firecrackers but this was really bad.'

Authorities were looking for a man seen in the area when the first bomb exploded.

'We're seeking a black male, 25-26. We don't know if he's connected. All we know is he was spotted in the area at the time of the (first) bombing,' said Capt. Daniel Koprowski.

The note attached to the bomb was written on an 8-by-10 inch piece of paper with a broad felt-tip pen, Reck said.

'It said something about oppressed gays,' Reck said. 'The word 'oppressed' really stuck out.'

Wisconsin lesbian and homosexual organizations spoke out Thursday against the bombings.

Sandra Lipke, executive director of the Wisconsin Lesbian-Gay Network, said: 'We deplore this use of violence by any person for any reason. We stand ready to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in every way possible.'