0 051715Z DEC 78
FM SACRAMENTO (89-191) (P)
TO DIRECTOR FBI (89-4286) IMMEDIATE
NEW YORK (BQMRA) (89-495) IMMEDIATE
SAN FRANCISCO (89-250) IMMEDIATE
BT
UNCLAS
RYMUR, 00: SAN FRANCISCO.
Teletype predicated on telephone call from SA [name deleted], BQMRA, Dec 5, 1978, requesting information on Roseville train explosion. Because Leslie Wilson, People’s Temple member stated in interview, [information deleted] stated he bombed a train in Roseville, California.
Southern Pacific train departed Naval Ammunition Depot, Hamilton [Hawthorne], Nevada, evening April 26, 1973, 120 cars, enroute to Concord, Calif., for shipment far east . Twenty-one cars contained 336 bombs per car, each bomb 250 pounds. Total explosive force approximately 1.4 million pounds. Remainder cars consisted of
PAGE TWO SC 89-191 UNCLAS
liquid propane gas, crude oil, paint, chemicals, flour, meal, dye, etc.
Train arrived Roseville, Calif., approximately 6:05 AM, April 28, 1973, fire first observed 7:50 AM, near head of train.
First explosion occurred approximately 8:00 to 8:05 AM. Chain reaction explosions continued through afternoon of April 29, 1973.
No positive evidence of sabotage ever established. Probable, but yet undetermined, cause of initial fire was wheel fire.
San Francisco at San Francisco. Ensure [name deleted] interviewed in-depth regarding alleged claim he bombed train in Roseville, California.
BT