Suspicious Package Found on I-75 in Cobb County Turns Out Not to Be a Bomb, Police Confirm
ATLANTA, GEORGIA — A major bomb scare that halted traffic along Interstate 75 in Cobb County during rush hour on Friday turned out to be a false alarm, police confirmed late in the evening.
Interstate Shut Down During Rush Hour Investigation
According to the Cobb County Police Department, officers were dispatched to a report of a possible pipe bomb on I-75 between Delk Road and Windy Hill Road around 4 p.m. Friday. The discovery prompted authorities to shut down both northbound and southbound lanes, causing heavy congestion across the metro area.
A bomb squad robot was deployed to examine the suspicious object as police and emergency teams cleared nearby vehicles and secured the perimeter.
Police Identify Object as Harmless Pipe
After inspection, officials determined that the object was not an explosive device. Cobb County police said the item appeared to be a section of pipe with threaded end caps and wires attached to each end, but it was empty and posed no danger to the public.
“The item was identified as a section of pipe with threaded end caps and what appeared to be wires attached to each end,” police said in a statement.
Authorities have not yet determined how or why the pipe was placed on the highway, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Highway Reopened After Two-Hour Closure
Traffic along I-75 began to resume around 6 p.m., nearly two hours after the incident began. Commuters faced significant delays as law enforcement worked to ensure the area was safe before reopening the roadway.
The Cobb County Bomb Squad, assisted by local police and emergency management units, confirmed that no additional suspicious items were found.
Community Response and Safety Reminder
The brief closure drew widespread attention from commuters and social media users, with many sharing videos and photos of police and bomb squad vehicles along the interstate.
Officials are urging residents to remain alert and report any suspicious objects but also to avoid approaching or handling unknown items.
“While this incident turned out to be harmless, we take all reports of suspicious packages seriously to protect the public,” a Cobb County spokesperson said.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident to determine whether the pipe was intentionally placed or accidentally dropped.
Follow SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com for updates on this developing story and other Georgia public safety news.
