Breaking news out of Washington, D.C. as there are reports that the bomb squad has detonated a suspicious item — possibly a propane tank (see update) — found in an unattended vehicle near the U.S. Capitol:
#BREAKING VIDEO: Bomb squad just blew up something pulled out of unattended car parked near US #Capitol. @abc7news pic.twitter.com/Qt4UYEQldz
— Jay Korff (@ABC7Jay) May 24, 2015
The incident has delayed thousands in the area for tonight’s Memorial Day concert on the Capitol grounds;
Organizer: concert goers are going into show on West Lawn. 4th remains closed due to suspicious item in car on 3rd. pic.twitter.com/bI4jxsLRpH
— Jay Korff (@ABC7Jay) May 24, 2015
Witness tells @ABC7News it looked like propane gas tank is in this car parked at 3rd near #USCapitol. Robot checking pic.twitter.com/0rpDkhSAAs
— Jay Korff (@ABC7Jay) May 24, 2015
BREAKING: Nat'l Mem. Day concert-goers delayed from entering #Capitol grounds. Bomb squad checking out car. @ABC7News pic.twitter.com/t52T20vvwt
— Jay Korff (@ABC7Jay) May 24, 2015
UPDATE: Concert starts on time. Auths still pouring over car they pulled suspicious item out of & blew up. @ABC7News pic.twitter.com/iyapEDaEfJ
— Jay Korff (@ABC7Jay) May 25, 2015
Update. Earlier reports suggested the item was a propane tank, but here is a close up image of what was detonated:
BREAKING UPDATE: We zoomed in on our @abc7news video & this is what bomb squad blew up near #USCapitol. pic.twitter.com/40vSoVEcbg
— Jay Korff (@ABC7Jay) May 25, 2015
Update. The concert goes on!
What an honor to be a part of this beautiful event #MemDayPBS Live right now on @PBS #WashingtonDC #CapitolHill pic.twitter.com/PT1W3wslFc
— Gloria Estefan (@GloriaEstefan) May 25, 2015
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Update. Another report of a propane tank in the car:
UPDATE: bomb tech also pulled from suspicious car parked near #USCapitol what looks like a propane tank. @ABC7News pic.twitter.com/XXjSuLM6UO
— Jay Korff (@ABC7Jay) May 25, 2015
Update. False alarm from the sound of it:
Pressure cooker & propane tank destroyed near Capitol before Memorial Day concert. Sources say it was tied to food truck & nothing nefarious
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) May 25, 2015
USCP were mindful of pressure cooker bombs after Boston Marathon bombing & failed Times Square attack in 2010. Both featured those decices
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) May 25, 2015
Despite issue with USCP destroying pressure cooker near Capitol, nationally televised Memorial Day Concert went off without incident.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) May 25, 2015
USCP say they found "parked & unoccupied vehicle..suspicious in nature" near Capitol. Found pressure cooker & smelled gas.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) May 25, 2015
Update:
USCP say owner of vehicle near Capitol was Israel Shimeles of Alexandria, VA. Charged w/Operating After Revocation. Now at USCP HQ.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) May 25, 2015
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with additional tweets.