Federal authorities are helping investigate after police evacuated local businesses near a church in North Carolina where suspicious explosives were found Sunday, numerous sources reported.
The Brevard Police Department received a call about suspicious incendiary devices near the First Baptist Church of Brevard and the Transylvania County Health Department, the police department’s press release said. Several law enforcement agencies were said to be investigating the matter.
Police discovered several undetonated incendiary devices at the church, according to the press release. The devices at the health department building appeared to have been detonated, police say. There were no injuries, police said according to the press release.
Investigators cordoned off the area and evacuated local businesses as a precautionary measure, according to the police department. (RELATED: Student Accidentally Blows Up Homemade Explosive In Michigan High School)
The local police department was working alongside the local sheriff’s office and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on the case, the police department’s statement added.
“If you see something that’s out of place; something that doesn’t make sense; or a device that’s a little off; call us, we’ll come check it out. Don’t disturb it,” Deputy Chief Tom Jordan said, as reported by ABC 11.
Brevard Police Chief John Harris affirmed the city is safe, but that local residents can help keep Brevard safe by being mindful about their surroundings and contacting police when observing suspicious behavior, Fox Carolina reported Monday.
“Brevard is safe,” Harris told the outlet. “Whenever an incident like this occurs, additional attentiveness is critical. So I’m asking people to look for suspicious items. Contact police and we’ll be glad to come investigate that.”
“And for suspicious people, if you see someone acting suspiciously, you don’t need to confront them, or need to assess if it’s a good idea to call the police, call the police,” he continued. “We’ll come and we’ll speak to those people.”