A man threatened to blow up the Liberty Bell yesterday. He left two backpacks near the Bell which he said contained explosives.
Police said there were no explosives but they failed to release the man’s name. The Park Service is running the investigation. ATF is involved.
Park Service? They manage parks and landmarks, give tours, look for poachers and do bioblitz species inventories et al.
via Philly.com
Park rangers earlier Saturday morning stopped the unidentified male, who police said was threatening to blow up the Liberty Bell. The man also said he had explosives in his backpacks, O’Brien said.
Two black backpacks were found in front of the Liberty Wheels wheelchair and scooter rental shop at 714 Market Street.
Police arrived on the scene at approximately 10:45 a.m. and closed off Market Street between 7th and 8th Streets, blocking off car and foot traffic.
Shortly after, a member of the Philadelphia Police Department’s bomb squad unit began investigating the backpacks. Other members of the unit arrived later.
Market Street reopened to pedestrians and traffic around 11:45 a.m. The Liberty Bell remained open.
Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) responded alongside Philadelphia police to assist the National Park Service. The investigation is being handled by the Park Service, said Special Agent Steven Bartholomew, spokesman for the ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division.
A spokeswoman for the National Park Service could not be immediately reached for comment.
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