Suspicious item is blown up near Capitol as many gather at concert
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Version 0 of 1. A pressure cooker was blown up Sunday night on the Mall during an investigation of a parked vehicle that appeared to be suspicious, authorities said. The controlled explosion of the cooker was heard by a crowd assembled on the Capitol’s west lawn for the annual Memorial Day concert. The vehicle was parked on Third Street NW between Jefferson and Madison drives, and nearby streets were closed for several hours after the vehicle was observed around 5 p.m. A Capitol Police spokeswoman said officers spotted the pressure cooker in the vehicle and also detected the odor of gasoline. It is possible for pressure cookers to be used to build makeshift bombs. Police “safely disrupted” some items in the vehicle, which included the cooker, Capitol Police spokeswoman Kimberly Schneider said. Disruption often involves setting off a small explosion. In this case, Schneider said, it produced a loud bang. One person who attended the concert said an announcement was made before the concert began — a warning that a loud noise might be heard. The Capitol Police investigation concluded at about 8:20 p.m., Schneider said. She said nothing hazardous was found. However, Schneider said, the vehicle’s owner, identified as Israel Shimeles of Alexandria, was arrested and charged with operating a vehicle after revocation. |