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...A suspected pipe bomb was found at Mt. Berry Square mall this morning, prompting an evacuation of the shopping center, and Emergency Management Agency Director Scotty Hancock said it was still unclear whether the device was explosive.
Hancock said it had the physical appearance of a pipe bomb, but no detonator.
"I don't know if it had the insides to make it explode," he said.
The device will be sent to the crime lab.
According to Travis Goss of the Rome Police Department, shortly after 7 a.m., a maintenance worker found a suspicious package and called 911. Officers set up a command center at Treasure Island, as well as barriers around the mall.
At around 9:15 a.m., reporters on the scene heard a call of "fire in the hole," and then a small explosion from near the main entrance around 10 seconds later. The package was then removed from the site.
Sheriff Tim Burkhalter said the "bomb" was found in a parking island near the front entrance. No suspects have been named, an
Customers wait to enter Mt. Berry Square after police disarmed a suspected pipe bomb today. (William T. Martin / RN-T) |
d Burkhalter said the bomb appeared to have been placed at the mall intentionally.
Rome police will investigate the case.
Agencies responding to the event were the Rome Police Department, Floyd County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia State Patrol and the Northwest Georgia Bomb Squad.
Hancock applauded the local agencies’ efforts, noting the speed with which the mall was evacuated and barriers were erected.
Mall spokeswoman Janet Paulsen said, “I’m happy with the emergency response. We train for these types of scenarios and everything has gone as planned.”
Perimeter retailers such as Landmark Restaurant, Toys R Us and Circuit City remained available during the evacuation. Mall employees, media representatives and others waited at Landmark while police worked at the scene.
At around 10:40 a.m., police took down the barriers around the mall. The mall reopened about 10 minutes later.
