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Passengers leave threatened US bus, hands in air
Police were slowly evacuating passengers today from a bus after a passenger reported seeing an explosive device on board.
Police were slowly evacuating passengers today from a bus after a passenger reported seeing an explosive device on board.
Passengers were getting off the Greyhound bus with their hands in the air as a bomb squad and police sharpshooter kept watch in downtown Portsmouth.
Police say someone aboard the bus, carrying nearly 20 people, called authorities and reported an explosive device on board, leading police to surround the vehicle and evacuate nearby buildings and streets.
The call came after the bus' arrival in Portsmouth around 11:30 am and was "based on someone's observations," Police Captain Mike Schwartz said. He had not heard of any threat being made.
Police were in contact with people on the bus, but it was unclear why they remained on board for more than two hours before they started to leave. They left the bus one by one, separated by a couple minutes each, and carried no purses or bags. Most held their hands aloft as they passed officers with their weapons drawn.
The state police explosives disposal unit and the FBI were on scene, and restrictions were put on air travel in the area, which kept television helicopters from flying overhead.
