bomb squad

Investigation Near County Office Building

By ARLnow.com

Updated at 8:55 a.m. — ART reports that the scene in front of the county building is now clear and buses are running normally.

Roads are closed in front of the county office building at 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, in Courthouse, while authorities investigate a suspicious envelope.

Police were unable to provide any additional information about the investigation, but a photo of the scene shows the county’s Bomb Squad truck and a Bomb Squad member in full blast gear.

ART bus routes 41, 62 and 77 are delayed due to the closures.

Photo courtesy Tim Kelley

UPDATED: Bomb Squad Investigates Threat at Americans for Prosperity Office

By ARLnow.com

Update at 12:15 p.m. — The scene has been cleared and employees are being allowed back into the office.

Earlier: Arlington County’s bomb squad is investigating some sort of bomb threat inside an office building in Courthouse.

Initial reports suggest the threat was made to the conservative political advocacy group Americans for Prosperity, at 2111 Wilson Boulevard. Bomb-sniffing dogs from the Arlington County Police Department and Virgina State Police are on the scene. Americans for Prosperity employees have been evacuated, but employees in other offices have been allowed to remain.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) has been the source of some controversy recently. Among other incidents, the group was accused of sending error-filled ballots to Democrats in Wisconsin during a contentious election this month.

David H. Koch and Charles G. Koch, the original founders of AFP’s predecessor organization, have been major supporters of numerous conservative causes. The New Yorker has reported that Americans for Prosperity provides organizational and financial support to the Tea Party movement.

Holy Hand Grenade! Suspicious Object Found Near Church

By ARLnow.com

The Arlington County bomb squad was called out to a grassy lot next to Faith Lutheran Church (3313 Arlington Blvd) in Ashton Heights this afternoon to investigate what looked like a hand grenade.

A bomb technician eventually determined that the object — which was found lying in the grass well away from the church — was not explosive and the scene was cleared within an hour. Based on initial descriptions, the object was likely a toy or a replica hand grenade.