WILMINGTON — The Wilmington Police Department is continuing to investigate a bomb threat made this weekend, including an apparently fake hostage threat as well as potential similarities to at least two other bomb threats in North Carolina.
According to the Wilmington Police Department (WPD), officers responded to the bomb threat around 6:15 p.m. on Saturday evening.
WPD confirmed that the call, which came in through the New Hanover County 911 system, involved the North 2nd Street parking deck and the New Hanover County Courthouse. The caller told 911 operators that a hostage was involved, although WPD and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office cleared the scene without finding the suspect, a hostage, or any explosive device. Adjacent roads were reopened around 9:30 p.m.
According to WPD, there were at least two other similar threats, including one made in downtown Apex and another at a restaurant in Manteo, and authorities are investigating any possible connections.
According to WRAL, the bomb threat in Apex was made to the town’s communication center late Saturday afternoon. A portion of downtown was evacuated, including Apex’s Halle Cultural Arts Center. WRAL reported that police set up a major staging area, including emergency medical vehicles; police also stationed on downtown rooftops. The Apex Police Department continues to investigate.
The Coastland Times reports that the Manteo incident involved more specific threats. The Lost Colony Brewery and Cafe receive two bomb threats, the first prior to opening. After police searched the building and cleared it, the restaurant opened — only to receive a second bomb threat, this time specifically mentioning dousing the building in gasoline and using explosives.
Manteo police officers and the Dare County Sheriff’s Office evacuated the restaurant and closed off the area. After a second search again revealed nothing, the scene was reopened, and the restaurant reopened on Sunday. Manteo Police Chief Vance Haskett said although the threat was apparently a hoax, his department would aggressively pursue leads to find those responsible.
Anyone with information pertaining to these incidents is encouraged to call the Wilmington Police Department at (910)-343-3609 or use tip708.com for anonymous methods.
