Authorities are investigating a “dirty bomb” report made by a YouTube conspiracy theorist in the Wando Welch terminal in South Carolina, local news reports say.
As tensions remain high over a mass shooting at a congressional baseball game, authorities responded quickly to the report of a possible “dirty bomb” in Charleston harbor. According to ABC 4, “local, state and federal authorities are all on scene investigating the threat, and employees have been evacuated.” They were told there was a bomb threat.
The well-known terminal is located at the Port of Charleston. Fox Carolina reported that the FBI is involved and investigating a report of a dirty bomb on a ship.
Authorities said “a YouTube ‘conspiracy theorist’ has made a claim about a threat aboard a ship in the port, and authorities are investigating out of an abundance of caution,” ABC 4 reported. In other words, after all of the tragedies in the news, they are taking no chances, although the threat has not been confirmed and could end up being a false alarm. The YouTube conspiracy theorist was not named by the television station.
According to Live5News, “Officials with the Coast Guard say the FBI is investigating a report of a dirty bomb on a ship at the Wando Terminal Wednesday night” June 14.
Hazmat and EMS crews were at the scene.
Here’s a view of the terminal on normal days:
Here’s a photo of a French ship that was recently at the terminal.
The incident comes after five people were injured at the congressional baseball game that left U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise and lobbyist Matt Mika in critical condition. An Illinois man, James T. Hogkinson, was the gunman who was shot and killed by Capitol police officers at the scene.
Although there is no evidence the Charleston threat is related in any way, the Virginia shooting does have people and authorities on edge.