Seattle port terminal evacuated, bomb squad called?|?Reuters.com
SEATTLE, Aug 16 (Reuters) – A terminal at the Port of Seattle was evacuated on Wednesday and a bomb squad was investigating a ship container that alarmed bomb-sniffing dogs, a port spokesman said.
Authorities set up a 2,000-foot (610-metre) perimeter around Terminal 18, just south of downtown Seattle, port spokesman David Schaefer said.The container first raised suspicion when a screening using gamma ray technology about the contents’ density did not match the items listed on the ships’ manifest. Then bomb-sniffing dogs indicated the possible presence of explosives.
“There is a bomb disposal unit looking further into the container to try and figure what exactly is in the contents,” said port spokesman David Schaefer.
All nonessential port personnel have been evacuated, Schaefer said.
Yikes. However, the situation has mostly been resolved:
King5 TV in Seattle reports that the containers have been determined to not be radioactive (yay) and that whatever explosives might have been inside, they done got blown up when the bomb squad used explosives to cut their way in (yay with a side of “yow!”). The contents of the containers are still being examined (whatever is left, that is).
Two containers were reportedly designated for inspection long before they arrived. The fact that they were from Pakistan, however, was part of the reason, according to the agent.
