Truck Investigation Shut Down D.C.

WASHINGTON - Frustrated drivers sat in standstill traffic Wednesday morning as police evacuated a two-block area around the Agriculture Department on Independence Avenue to investigate a suspicious truck parked in front of department.

About 7,000 people were evacuated from the USDA's South Building, Administration Building and Auditor's Building.

The investigation shut down part of the city around 8:30 a.m. The all-clear on the situation was given at 10 a.m., an hour and a half after the incident started. But traffic problems remained past 11 a.m., WTOP Traffic reported.

A man was arrested outside the department after claiming to have explosives, officials told The Associated Press. A file box of books, a suitcase and clothing bags on the truck were investigated.

D.C. Police Commander Thomas McGuire said the man driving a Budget rental van parked it outside the Agriculture Department, got out and began to stop traffic. A police officer spotted the man and approached him.

Police say at that point, the man said he had explosives in the van and made threatening remarks about President Bush.

The suspect was taken to an area hospital for further evaluation.

No explosives or other incendiary devices were found in a rental van, D.C. Fire and EMS spokesman Allen Etter told WTOP.

"There were a number of tests done interior and exterior and no hazardous issues were found," Etter said. "No explosives were found. No biological or chemical matter was found."

Two suspicious packages were neutralized with a water cannon, a General Services Administration official tells WTOP.

"After Sept. 11 we are living in a very different atmosphere in terms of providing fire and EMS service to citizens. We have to respond enthusiastically and as aggressively to every single situation just in case it turns out to be the real thing. Are we over-reacting? Absolutely not," Etter said.

The investigation closed Independence Avenue, 14th Street and the 14th Street bridge, the 3rd and 12th Street tunnels, Interstate 395. U.S. 66 at the Roosevelt Bridge also shut down for a brief time. Traffic had to be diverted all around the region.

Metro also would not let passengers off at the Smithsonian Metro stop. Metro reopened that stop after 10 a.m.

(Copyright 2002 by WTOP and The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)