‘No explosive threat’ posed by discovery in vehicle at Picatinny Arsenal

UPDATE: Picatinny Arsenal said there was “no explosive threat” posed by what was found in a suspicious vehicle that caused widespread evacuations and a response by FBI agents responded to the base earlier today.

Photo Credit: *Cliffview Pilot File Photo*

Jerry DeMarco

04/17/2015 7:47 p.m.

“While the truck gate will remain closed, normal operations will commence through the front entrance,” base officials announced. “Additionally, gate operations will continue through the Mount Hope gate for a limited time.

Picatinny Arsenal spokesman Ed Lopez confirmed late this afternoon that a driver was taken into custody after he tried to enter through a truck gate around 11:30 a.m. and the contents in the trunk of his vehicle aroused the suspicions of security officers.

The base was evacuated and area businesses and homes were being cleared over a five-mile radius, as well.

Evacuations were conducted “as a precaution,” a law enforcement source with knowledge of the incident told CLIFFVIEW PILOT earlier today.

Temporary airspace restrictions over the base were removed, as well.

Route 15 was reopened around 5 p.m.

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