A stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway was shut down and the nearby Folk Art Center evacuated on Sunday after the discovery of a suspicious device. Authorities responded to calls at approximately 11:45 a.m., rightfully prompting an extensive emergency response near Asheville, North Carolina. The situation brought together the expertise of several agencies, including the National Park Service (NPS), Asheville Police Department's bomb squad, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, WYFF4 reported.
WBTV noted that the device was found on a roadside pull-off, evoking caution among authorities, considering it to be an improvised incendiary device designed more for rapidly setting fires than for an explosive impact. Despite the scale of the incident, and the cooperation amongst federal, state, and local authorities, the situation was neutralized without injury or further incident.
The closed section of the roadway has since been reopened and the Folk Art Center cleared for visitors once again. Public safety officials have declared that there is no longer a threat to the community as of yesterday. However, the identity or intentions of the individual or group responsible for placing the device have not been disclosed. The incident remains under active investigation led by the NPS's Investigative Services Branch.
Anyone with information that might aid in the investigation is encouraged to step forward. The National Park Service has provided contact details, suggesting people call their Investigative Services Branch at 888-653-0009. Alternately, information can be submitted online, the details of which were made available by Fox News in their coverage of the event. The authorities have not released, any information regarding potential suspects or arrests at this time.
