Suspicious Device Found At Garner Church

GARNER — A hazardous device discovered early Friday in the parking lot of The Capital Church in Garner was safely destroyed by explosive technicians, and no injuries were reported, authorities said.

Officers with the Garner Police Department found the suspicious item shortly after 7 a.m. at the church, located at 1308 U.S. 70. The discovery prompted an immediate evacuation of the area and temporary road closures as a precaution.

Trained technicians from the Raleigh Police Department Hazardous Device Unit responded to the scene and determined the object was a hazardous device. The unit safely destroyed it, and authorities said there was no fragmentation associated with the device.

All roads in the area have since reopened.

The Garner Police Department is leading the investigation. Officials said that at this stage there is no indication the incident was religiously motivated.

Several agencies assisted in the response, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and North Carolina State University Police. Authorities said those agencies helped secure the scene and check the church property.

Police credited proactive patrol efforts by their officers with locating the device before it could cause harm.

No additional information was released.