FBI: Grenade at Bush rally was live
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-05-18 20:43

TIBILISI, Georgia - The FBI said Wednesday that a grenade thrown in the crowd during last week's speech by President Bush in the Georgian capital was capable of exploding and was considered a threat against the president.

The statement by agent Bryan Paarmann contradicted initial reports by Georgian officials that the grenade was not capable of exploding and had been found on the ground. The grenade, wrapped in a dark handkerchief, fell about 100 feet from the podium where Bush was speaking May 10 and "simply failed to function," he said.

"We consider this act to be a threat against the health and welfare of the president of the United States as well as the welfare of the multitudes of Georgian people who turned up for this event," Paarmann said.

Bush spoke to tens of thousands of people in Freedom Square, a main plaza in Tbilisi. He offered strong support for Georgia's democratic development following the 2003 Rose Revolution. The crowd response was overwhelmingly favorable.

No arrests have been made in the case, and police have appealed to the public for videotapes that may contain information on the perpetrator.