Bomb Scare in Fayetteville

Fayetteville law enforcement officials -- and downtown business people -- are breathing a collective sigh of relief. A suspicious package turned out not to be a bomb.

The package was discovered this morning at a Fayetteville bank.

The Fort Bragg bomb squad, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents and Fayetteville police joined forces to investigate the package found at BB&T bank off Morganton Road. All 30 employees of the bank were evacuated.

Capt. Troy Fuller of Fort Bragg's 18th Ordnance Company says his group responds the same way whether there's doubt about the object being a bomb or not.

Workers examined a strange package found in the overnight deposit box and, with one pull of a cable, eased everyone's fears.

The item turned out to be a tube rolled up to resemble a bomb, and wires had been fashioned to come out one end.

Authorities have confiscated the package. If they find out who put it in the deposit box, the person or persons may be charged with a misdemeanor. If, however, they have left similar devices in the past, the charge would be a felony.

The bank closed for about two hours Monday morning, but reopened to the public after that.