A routine Tuesday afternoon wildlife patrol through the woods around the Anoka County-Blaine Airport turned up two mysterious objects that were removed by a bomb squad unit.
According to Patrick Hogan, Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) spokesman, two suspicious devices resembling possible pipe bombs were found in a wooded area on the west side of the airport by U.S. Department of Agriculture wildlife management personnel, who contacted the Blaine Police Department.
The two objects were found a significant distance from airport buildings, runways and taxiways and posed no threat to airport users. Operations were not affected by the discovery.
Blaine police were first responders and were later assisted by the Minneapolis Police Department Bomb Squad, Hogan said, adding that representatives from the FBI and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security also responded. Law enforcement authorities determined the two devices contained no explosives.
Blaine Police Chief Chris Olson said Wednesday afternoon the devices appeared suspicious enough to warrant attention. He confirmed the lack of explosives.
“We were appropriately cautious,” Olson said. “We contacted the bomb squad and other federal agencies just to make sure they were aware of what was going on and to share information.”
Olson said the USDA personnel found the devices during a patrol at the 1,800-acre airport, which supports more than 79,000 takeoffs and landings annually.
“They are out there to help with wildlife control, namely geese and deer,” Olson said. “It’s important for them to be out there managing those types of wildlife.”
Source: http://abcnewspapers.com
Source: http://abcnewspapers.com
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