Chaos after soldier dressed in suicide bomber costume tries to enter Fort Bragg

Nov. 02–Fort Bragg remains tight-lipped about a soldier who tried to enter the post Friday evening dressed as a suicide bomber for Halloween.

Fort Bragg spokesman Tom McCollum declined Monday to give the soldier’s name or whether he has been punished, saying only that the incident remains under investigation.

When the soldier tried to enter the gate, explosives experts were summoned and the gate was closed for an extended time, according to a post on Fort Bragg’s Facebook page. The post has since been removed.

“Folks need to use common sense when entering Fort Bragg or any other military installation when wearing a costume, given the shootings at the DC Naval Yards and the Chattanooga recruiting station,” McCollum said in an email.

McCollum was referring to the Sept. 16, 2013, mass shootings at the Washington Navy Yard and the July 16 shootings this year at a Chattanooga recruiting station and the nearby U.S. Navy Reservecenter.

In July, a soldier caused a lockdown at Fayetteville’s Cross Creek Mall when he walked out with an AR-15 rifle.

The soldier, Bryan Scott Wolfinger, said he had just left a photo shoot for portraits to be submitted to a “Captain America” movie casting call. He was charged with going armed to the terror of the public, a misdemeanor.

Nov. 01–Explosive experts were called to a gate at Fort Bragg on Friday evening when a soldier tried to enter the post dressed as a suicide bomber with a simulated explosive vest.

“Although the incident remains under investigation, initial reports indicate it was a Halloween costume,” a post on the Fort Bragg Facebook page said.

An explosive ordnance disposal team was called and the gate was closed for an extended period of time, according to the post, which was put up Saturday afternoon.

The garrison commander said costumes such as a suicide bomber are not allowed on post.

 

“The senior commander of Fort Bragg further directs that soldiers not wear costumes of this sort off post and strongly encourages soldiers, (Department of the Army) civilians and family members to follow the same guidance to prevent similar issues within our neighboring communities,” the Facebook post said.

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