Earl Woodham, spokesman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, confirmed the apparent connection for the first time this morning.

But Woodham said he cannot disclose other details, such as where in the store the most recent explosive device was found in the Concord Lowe’s.

Less than a week earlier, two bombs exploded in the paint departments of Lowe’s stores in Salisbury and Asheboro. The Salisbury bomb detonated at 5:50 p.m., and the bomb in Asheboro exploded two minutes later, investigators say.

Tuesday, an employee at the Lowe’s store in Concord found a suspicious package in the store. Minutes later, employees and customers were standing at the far end of the parking lot in the rain, watching ATF agents and police officers swarm the area.

It took hours for agents to dismantle and remove the device from the Concord store. No one was injured in the incident and the device was taken to ATF offices in Atlanta for examination.

The explosion and fire in Salisbury caused only minor injuries, but a Lowe’s customer in Asheboro suffered second- and third-degree burns and remains hospitalized.

Woodham said investigators don’t believe the Concord device was planted at the same time as the other two, based on information developed.

“That’s being looked at, but it is unlikely,” he said.

The components of any of the devices have not been discussed publicly because they are the most substantial pieces of the investigation.

The Greensboro News & Record reported “an aggrieved relative” of one of the spectators killed or injured in May at a Lowe’s Motor Speedway race contacted the Lowe’s headquarters in North Wilkesboro distraught because Lowe’s had not done enough for the accident victims.

Quoting an anonymous source, the newspaper said investigators are trying to determine if there is a link between the accident and the bombing.

This morning, Lowe’s Motor Speedway Public Information employee Scott Cooper said he was not aware of any threatening calls made to Lowe’s headquarters.

When asked about strengthening security at the speedway as a result of the bombings, Cooper said, “We always beef up security during race week. It is standard procedure.”

Woodham, ATF spokesman, said the investigators are pursuing all leads.

Officials at Lowe’s headquarters in North Wilkesboro did not return calls this morning.