The object that caused investigators to temporarily close the Downtown Connector in both directions Monday afternoon was a fake version of a military explosive, according to Atlanta police.
“The preliminary investigation indicated that the object was a novelty item made to look like a Claymore mine,” police said.
It was deemed harmless and I-75/85 reopened, according to police. But traffic was already a mess just north of I-20, near Grady Memorial Hospital, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
Police responded to the interstate to check out the object, located northbound at Decatur Street, the department said in a statement.
“The APD shut down the interstate after a suspicious object was located on the shoulder adjacent to the HOV lane,” police said. “Members of the APD Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit were able to safely examine the object. The device was determined to be inert.”
U.S. inventor Norman MacLeod filed a patent for an “anti-personnel fragmentation weapon” in 1956, according to Historynet.com. It became an iconic explosive device of the post-World War II era, according to the website.
The investigation continues, according to police.
Anyone with information on the device can submit a tip anonymously to the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at 404-577-TIPS (8477), online at www.StopCrimeAtl.org, or by texting CSGA and the tip to CRIMES (738477).
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