Explosive Detonated After Bomb Scare at Federal Courthouse in West Virginia

An explosive device was detonated on Monday after a bomb scare forced an evacuation of a federal courthouse in West Virginia.

More explosives were found at a nearby Presbyterian church, according to WVNS.

UPDATE: Another reported explosive device was found at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Bluefield, West Virginia. Bomb squad has arrived pic.twitter.com/CSRhaQAES4

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From WVNS:

According to Detective Adams with the Bluefield Police Department, one suspect is in custody after additional explosive devices were located at a church in Bluefield.

Detective Adams told 59News the devices were located at the Westminster Presbyterian Church on Washington Street. Washington Street is closed and nearby building have been evacuated to allow investigators and a bomb-squad time to investigate.

Residents in the area are asked to remain indoors and avoid the area while detectives secure the scene. This comes after an earlier bomb threat towards the Federal Courthouse in Bluefield where a device was safely detonated.

The suspect’s identity is not being released at this time.

Bluefield Daily Telegraph provided further details:

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Police and a bomb squad have now moved to a residence on Washington Street to investigate reports of a third explosive device in Bluefield today.

At 1:10 p.m., bomb squad units were seen preparing to enter the Westminster Presbyterian Church on Washington Street, off College Avenue, and at about 2 p.m. moved to the nearby residence of a suspect, where the third device is suspected to be.

Bluefield Police Chief Dennis Dillow said this morning they believe there are three devices within the city, with the first at the Federal Courthouse on Federal Street.

A bomb squad from Charleston entered the federal courthouse, where the first device was located, in Bluefield around 10:30 a.m. today.

Later, police could be heard shouting, “fire in the hole,” and at 11:40 a.m., a loud explosion from the courthouse was heard, but no smoke or debris could be seen.

Police later said it was “controlled detonation” of the device.

This story is developing.