Title Unaltered: American Shrapnel Chapter 1: The Blob Man
In the summer of 1996, the United States was gripped by the excitement of the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta. However, the Games were marred by a tragic event - a bombing at Centennial Olympic Park that claimed the life of one woman and injured over 100 others. The perpetrator of this heinous act was none other than Eric Rudolph, an American domestic terrorist.
Rudolph, a far-right Christian extremist and ardent opponent of abortion, carried out a series of bombings between 1996 and 1998, including attacks on abortion clinics and a gay nightclub. He evaded capture for over five years, hiding in the Appalachian Mountains before being arrested in North Carolina in 2003. He later confessed to all four bombings and was sentenced to multiple life terms in prison in 2005.
The initial focus of suspicion for the Centennial Olympic Park bombing wrongly fell on Richard Jewell, a security guard who discovered the bomb. However, Jewell was later cleared of any involvement. The real bomber, who came to be known as "Blob Man" by the FBI due to a grainy image captured in thousands of photos and videos of the attack, managed to escape after the bombing and continued his terror campaign.
The eight-part series "American Shrapnel: Run, Rudolph, Run", produced by the Alabama Media Group, provides a detailed account of the events following the blast. The series features interviews with those injured by the blast, witnesses, experts, federal agents, cops, and even the hero himself. It starts with the biggest pipe bomb the FBI had ever seen and ends with the largest manhunt in U.S. history.
The account of the events following the Birmingham bombing, another attack attributed to Rudolph, was recreated using newly unsealed archival files and interviews discovered by the Birmingham Public Library. A student in Birmingham witnessed a man acting strangely before the bombing, leading to a chase across the city's Southside.
The series also delves into Rudolph's motives, rooted in his extremist beliefs against abortion and what he called the "New World Order" - a conspiracy idea about increasing social acceptance and inclusivity. The series is set to be released in multiple episodes on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other podcast platforms.
The tragic incidents of the Centennial Olympic Park bombing and the subsequent manhunt for Rudolph continue to captivate public interest, with media coverage and podcasts exploring the ideology and legacy of his attacks. "American Shrapnel: Run, Rudolph, Run" promises to be a gripping and insightful exploration of these events, shedding light on a dark chapter in American history.
[1] "Eric Rudolph", FBI.gov, accessed on 2022-03-01. [2] "Centennial Olympic Park Bombing", History.com, accessed on 2022-03-01. [3] "Eric Rudolph", BBC News, accessed on 2022-03-01. [4] "The Manhunt for Eric Rudolph", CNN, accessed on 2022-03-01.
[1] The bombing at Centennial Olympic Park in 1996 was not just a general news event, but also intertwined with the politics of the time, as the perpetrator, Eric Rudolph, was an extremist with views on topics such as abortion and the "New World Order."
[2] The series "American Shrapnel: Run, Rudolph, Run" offers crime-and-justice insights into the events following the bombing, covering not only the manhunt and capture of Rudolph, but also the impact of his attacks on politics, the public, and general news.
