Bomb Scare at Pentagon
A man was arrested early this morning near the Pentagon with “suspicious materials and pro-Al Qaeda literature,” but no bombs were discovered.
A man who was carrying suspected bomb making materials and pro-al Qaeda literature was arrested in Arlington National Cemetery early this morning, triggering a bomb scare that snarled Washington’s morning rush hour. The FBI, however, determined that the material in his backpack was harmless.
“There was not a device and the products found are determined right now to be inert,” said Brenda Heck, special agent in charge of counterterrorism for the FBI.
The material in the suspect’s backpack tested negative as a potential explosive, sources said.
Sources told ABC News earlier that the backpack contained what was believed to be ammonium nitrate and spent ammunition for an automatic weapon. The material was reportedly contained in four large ziplock type bags.
Sources also said there were pro-al Qaeda statements found in a notebook that contained mostly notes for a financial class. There was also was a page containing words “al qaeda,” “Taliban rules,” “mujahidin” and “defeated coalition forces.”