I tried this several years ago and did not get any sufficient answer, so if I may be permitted to try once more because it has been bugging me for 25 years.
I am driving to my parents’ home in 1994 and on the car radio a news report interrupts and announced that there was a nuclear explosion at a Russian military base. The report stated that the Russians were attempting to disarm a nuclear weapon when it accidentally detonated. It stated that U.S. sources had been concerned because they were using crude implements to disarm it and not following safety protocols, stating that one of the implements used was an ice pick.
The “news” stated that over 3,000 people were on the base and all were feared dead. The U.S. source stated that with the haphazard way the device was being disarmed, it could have easily launched instead of detonating. “Early reports” were that it was targeted at New York. “More details will come as news comes in” then back to music.
Well, obviously this was a huge event and when I got to my parents’ house, I told my father and he immediately turned on TV. CNN, CBS, NBC…through all channels and, of course, nothing.
Aside from possible insanity, what could this have possibly been? Does anyone remember a movie or a play or a book that has a premise similar to this?
No, the closest event that I can think of was an explosion at a Russian Naval base. The flash may have been bright enough to trip the DSP satellites that watch for nuclear events. The reports you mentioned of using crude instruments don’t sound right for working on a rocket and the Russians are a lot more professional than that.
I found your source, it looks like the Weekly World News ran this story multiple times. A lot of details line up (ice pick, 3000 dead, stupid Russians) and the timing (early 90s) is right.
eta: Apparently Richard Gere is NOT gay.