Accused Yukon mail bomber charged with attempted murder

Two new charges have been laid against a Whitehorse senior citizen who's accused of mailing a bomb to his brother in B.C.

Leon Nepper, 73, is now charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault, in relation to the package he allegedly sent earlier this month to Roger Nepper in Port Alice, B.C. He's also under a court order forbidding him from making any contact with his brotheror sister-in-law.

Nepper was earlier charged with sending an explosive device with intent to cause bodily harm and with illegally possessing an explosive device.

The deviceexploded when RogerNepperopened it at his homelast week. Hisstep-daughter toldCBCthatthree of Roger Nepper'sfingers had to be amputated because of the blast.

She also said nails from the bomb were removed from hisstomach, and her mother, ShirleyBowick, was also burned in the incident.

Leon Nepper appeared in Yukon Territorial Court on Friday for a bail hearing. He'll remain in custody until his next court appearance on Oct. 5.

Whitehorse RCMPhave taken over the investigation of the incident.