Pipe bomb found in Seattle underground garage, suspect Osman Ibrahim in custody

According to the department, just after 8:00 am, police responded to the 900 block of South Horton Street for a suspicious item found in a parking garage while employees were sweeping the garage of trash.

Detectives from the Arson/Bomb Squad responded and used a robot to examine the device and safely removed it.

While police were investigating, the suspect, 38-year-old Osman Ibrahim, who was identified via surveillance footage, returned to the location and was arrested.

Officers booked the man into King County Jail for possession of an improvised explosive device.

According to court documents obtained by The Post Millennial, during Ibrahim’s first court hearing on Friday, his lawyers argued there was no probable cause because police investigators could not confirm it was an explosive device.

Det. Ron Giroux of SPD’s Arson/Bomb Squad stated, “The positive test was done by me as a burn test to confirm, based upon my limited ability to test the item, that it was explosive in nature,” Det. Giroux said in response to a question from the defense. “That tells us the items that were filled within the pipe reacted positively to flame, which means that they sparked, they reacted positively, and would have created positive pressure within that pipe.”

The judge found probable cause for Possession of an Explosive Device and Malicious Placement of an Explosive Device in the Second Degree.

According to King County prosecutors, “Because Mr. Ibrahim was not appropriate for court and represented by an attorney instead of appearing in person, a bail amount was not addressed today. He remains in the King County Jail.”

Ibrahim was charged Tuesday with Possession Of an Explosive Device and Malicious Placement Of An Explosive In The Second Degree. King County prosecutors argued that he should be held on $350,000 bail because of the danger to the community. A judge agreed on the bail amount and Ibrahim's arraignment is scheduled for 8:30 am Jan. 12.

Prior to his arrest, Ibrahim had active warrants in three felony cases. In each case, King County prosecutors argued against releasing him but judges did so anyway.

On Nov. 17, 2021, King County prosecutors charged Mr. Ibrahim with Burglary in the Second Degree, Theft of a Motor Vehicle and Possessing Stolen Property in the Second Degree. King County prosecutors argued that he should be held in custody because he was unlikely to return to court if released but the judge released him over objections. Warrants were later issued, including a warrant for failing to appear in court, which was active at the time of his most recent arrest.

On Feb. 22, 2022, King County prosecutors charged Ibrahim with Robbery in the Second Degree for a case involving the Home Depot in Seattle’s Sodo neighborhood. King County prosecutors argued that he should be held on $75,000 because he’s a danger to the community and unlikely to return to court if released, but the judge set bail at $50,000.

According to charging documents “Ibrahim’s behavior exhibited a complete lack of regard for the safety of those around him and that he is likely to commit a violent offense if released.” Despite having an active warrant at the time, a judge ordered him to electronic home detention. Court records show that a week later he removed his ankle monitor and prosecutors made a motion for a warrant, which remained active at the time of his recent arrest.

On Nov. 8, 2022, King County prosecutors charged Ibrahim with another count of Burglary in the Second Degree for a case involving the burglary of a Seattle construction company. Even though prosecutors noted in charging documents that Ibrahim had multiple pending charges and two active warrants at the time King County prosecutors filed this felony charge, the case was referred to prosecutors and charged when Ibrahim was already out of custody.