Backpack thrown from car led to hours-long ‘hoax’ bomb investigation

SOUTH FULTON, Ga. — Police in the City of South Fulton alerted the public to “suspected explosives” being found near a shopping center on Saturday morning.

Officers say they were called to an area of Old National Hwy. near Hwy. 138 at 12:30 a.m. on Saturday morning after someone said they saw a backpack thrown from a car into the shopping center parking lot.

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There, they found a “suspicious package located containing suspected explosive devices.”

Police say they evacuated the area and shut down several businesses. People in the area called Channel 2 Action News on Saturday morning to say several roads had been blocked off for a police investigation.

The FBI described it as a “hoax device.”

Police say the devices found in the backpack were determined not to be explosives.

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The Atlanta Police Department Bomb Squad responded to the area.

Just after 10:30 a.m., police say the device was “rendered” safe.

The FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms also responded to investigate.

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