Suspicious incendiary device found near Blue Ridge Parkway prompts evacuation
Rangers with the National Park Service (NPS) responded to a section of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville, North Carolina, on Sunday after receiving reports of a suspicious item in the dirt.
Officials with the NPS said the device was located near an intersection by the Folk Art Center at about 11:45 a.m.
The Asheville Police Department Bomb Squad, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation responded to the scene, as did fire and emergency crews from Asheville and Riceville.
The NPS said the Folk Art Center was evacuated and a section of the parkway was closed temporarily as a precaution.
Multiple Wildfires In The Carolinas Force Evacuations, Burn Ban Issued In South Carolina
Specialists safely removed the item, and the NPS said there are no current threats to the public.
Read On The Fox News App
Officials referred to the device as an "Improvised Incendiary Device." The NPS did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for further information.
The NPS said its investigative services branch is investigating the matter.
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the NPS Investigative Services Branch at 888-653-0009, by submitting a tip at go.nps.gov/SubmitATip, or by emailing the agency at nps_isb@nps.gov.
Fbi Found 150 Bombs At Virginia Home In December, Prosecutors Say
Construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway began nearly 90 years ago at Cumberland Knob, North Carolina, which is at the Virginia border.
Since then, the parkway has become an integral part of the mountains and the Appalachian communities that lie along its 460-mile route, as well as a gateway to the region's culture and history.
Bomb-making Materials Found At New Orleans Airbnb Linked To Bourbon Street Terrorist: Report
With a top speed of 45 mph along its curving roads, the parkway also offers a chance for visitors to slow down and enjoy the scenery. The 264 overlooks offer breathtaking views of the mountains and valleys, sunrises and sunsets, and the stars on clear nights.
The parkway connects Shenandoah National Park with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It starts at Rockfish Gap, Virginia, intersecting Skyline Drive, and winds southwest through Virginia into mountainous western North Carolina.
Travelers will find campgrounds and hiking trails, glimpses of small-town Appalachian life in places like Floyd, Virginia, the small cities of Roanoke, Virginia, and Asheville, North Carolina, and many other treasures tucked away in the mountains.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.Original article source: Suspicious incendiary device found near Blue Ridge Parkway prompts evacuation
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Fayette County and other agencies target drug trafficking, other illicit activities
fayette – A multi-agency drug sting Thursday resulted in numerous illegal narcotics being taken off the streets in Fayette County, as well as several arrests. According to a press release from Fayette County Sheriff Jess McMullen, 'Fayette County Sting 19' on June 5 targeted drug and other illegal trafficking activity along U.S. 19 through Fayette County. The targeted endeavor was initiated by Fayetteville Police Chief Ty Hogan and also included the Fayette County Sheriff's Department, the Oak Hill and Fayetteville police departments and the National Park Service. Its aim was to put a bull's-eye on illegal activities along the major traffic corridor in Fayette County. 'As we all know, the drug activity in southern West Virginia has been an issue for many years,' said McMullen. 'Law enforcement agencies have worked hard on combatting the sale and distribution of drugs in these areas, but it has been a rough road. 'The plan behind this operation was to target the drugs that are trafficked into our area from other states. The drugs on our streets are not commonly manufactured in this area; they are transported in from other areas and are typically manufactured south of the American border. If we can slow the trafficking process coming into our area, we can slow the distribution into our communities.' According to McMullen, the following illegal narcotics and related items were secured during the sting: $19,770 in drug-related U.S. currency; 103 grams of fentanyl; 12 grams of cocaine (including crack); and one gram of methamphetamine. Four felony arrests for possession with the intent to deliver were lodged, as well as numerous simple possession citations for Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 controlled substances, in addition to multiple misdemeanor arrests. 'On behalf of myself, Chiefs Whisman (Michael, Oak Hill), Hogan (Tyler 'Ty,' Fayetteville) and Wissinger (Rob, NPS chief ranger), we would like to commend these officers on their continued dedication to our communities of Fayette County,' McMullen said in the release. 'Traffic enforcement helps combat these illegal drugs being distributed to those who suffer from addiction, and could potentially save lives. 'We would like to thank our communities for their continued support of the men and women who work tirelessly to keep our communities safe.'
Fox News
12 hours ago
- Fox News
BRETT TOLMAN: Mountain runner facing prison for using trail bureaucrats secretly deemed off-limits
Picture this: you lace up your shoes, take a breath of fresh mountain air, and hit the trail in the Grand Tetons National Park. You complete a legendary speed record in the world of ultra-running, and fellow runners are celebrating you. Then, you're slapped with a federal crime. Sounds like a joke, right? Sadly, it's real—and it's happening now to Michelino Sunseri, a 32-year-old bartender and record-setting mountain runner. Sunseri ran a trail that hundreds if not thousands before him had done: he took a well-worn trail, one that's been used for decades by hikers, climbers, and runners alike. There was no gate. No park ranger stopping people. Just a tiny sign about "erosion" half-hidden in the sagebrush. But that was enough for the National Park Service to charge him with a federal crime. Now, Sunseri is looking at up to $5,000 in fines, a possible six months in federal prison, and worst of all—a permanent criminal record. To add insult to injury, he could also be banned from the Grand Tetons National Park, the mountains he loves, for the next five years. This isn't justice. This is overcriminalization. Sunseri should not be a criminal. He didn't vandalize or hurt anyone. He ran a trail. He did not damage the trail, and he was open about it. He posted his record-breaking run on a digital app, and that's when government bureaucrats decided to make an example of him. When federal bureaucrats act as lawmaker, judge, and jury, there's little any of us can do. As a former federal prosecutor, I can tell you that the Department of Justice wins 90% of its cases. And too often, there is no common sense, no grace, no understanding. Just raw, unchecked power. And here's the truth: it can happen to you. When the government creates a maze of vague rules and hidden signs and then prosecutes people who violate them without knowing and without intent, it's not justice. It's about power and control. Sunseri's case is a warning to all of us. It shows what happens when Americans are expected to follow rules they can't even see. No one in the entire federal government keeps track of them all, but we estimate there are more than 300,000 federal statutes and regulations that carry federal criminal penalties. And remember, once convicted of a federal crime there is no expungement of your record. Even if you're pardoned, your criminal record follows you for a lifetime and prevents opportunities for housing, education and employment. Sunseri's case isn't about a trail. It's about the growing divide between everyday citizens and an out-of-touch bureaucracy that thinks it knows best. It's about the erosion of liberty in the name of government authority. We cannot sit back and let this continue. Government overreach is real, and this case is Exhibit A. We need laws written by elected lawmakers—not unaccountable federal agencies. We need clarity, not hidden signs and gotcha rules. And above all, we need a justice system that remembers the difference between a criminal—and a man who just loves to run in the mountains where he lives.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Dupont Circle Park reopens, just hours ahead of WorldPride parade
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a reversal of decisions just hours before the WorldPride parade, the fencing around Dupont Circle Park has been removed. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the National Park Service (NPS) announced Saturday morning that Dupont Circle Park will reopen for WorldPride 2025. This comes after an intense couple of days of criticism and confusion over the decision to close the park at the center of the District's historic LGBTQ community during Pride weekend. As the fencing was coming down, the offices of the Mayor and the National Park Service released the following joint statement: "We are pleased that the Mayor's office and the National Park Service could work together overnight on a solution that protects the historic features of this park while also ensuring the safety of all who enjoy it. We want this weekend to be a safe and fun celebration in our nation's capital – and one that includes one of the best parks and community spaces in our city, Dupont Circle. We look forward to working together on future initiatives that keep DC safe and beautiful." MORE RELATED NEWS: Dupont Circle park to close for Pride weekend after back and forth decisions The backstory NPS said the plan to close Dupont Circle park over WorldPride was to prevent vandalism and destruction seen during previous Pride weekends. During Pride weekend in 2023, NPS says the Dupont Circle fountain was vandalized, causing $175,000 in damages. "We recognize that World Pride is a significant event, and we are committed to supporting a safe celebration for all," NPS spokesperson Mike Litterst said. "We ask for the public's cooperation and understanding as we take this necessary step to keep the community and visitors safe and protect one of D.C.'s most treasured public spaces." The decision was also made in response to President Donald Trump's Executive Order on Protecting American Monuments, Memorials, and Statues, and Combating Recent Criminal Violence. "That order calls for federal agencies to take proactive steps to protect historic and cultural resources on public lands, particularly where there is a demonstrated risk of damage or unlawful activity," said Litterst. The Source Information from the Mayor's office and NPS was used to write this report.
