Officers clear possible pipe bomb threat in southern Wisconsin city, declare area safe
WATERTOWN, Wis. (WFRV) – On Thursday, officers in southern Wisconsin worked to clear the scene of a possible pipe bomb threat, eventually declaring the area safe.
Around 8:30 p.m. on May 29, the Watertown Police Department sent out a release warning the public that they had received a report of a possible pipe bomb in the area of South Third Street and Market Street in Watertown.
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Citizens were asked to avoid the area as officers worked to secure the scene and evacuate nearby residents out of precaution.
Later that night, Watertown PD declared the area safe, indicating there was no further threat to the public.
An updated press release was sent out on Friday morning with more details, including a description of the potential explosive device.
Officers say the initial call came in around 7:05 p.m., reporting a suspicious object that had been placed on a residential gas meter.
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The Milwaukee Police Department Hazardous Devices Unit, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and We Energies responded to the scene and assisted with the investigation.
Ultimately, the suspicious device was determined not to be explosive.
No additional details were provided as the investigation remains active. Local 5 will update this story when more information is released.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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