A mysterious explosive device was discovered near the doorway of a small suburban New York apartment building on Monday — prompting a shelter-in-place order after residents of the normally quiet, tree-lined block heard loud booms, according to reports and authorities.
The powerful noise that shook the White Plains neighborhood shortly before 4:30 a.m. was initially believed to be a blown transformer but when cops showed up to Odell Avenue following multiple calls, they found no evidence of damage, according to the White Plains Police Department.
A police officer then spotted what appeared to be a “small explosive device” near the doorway of an apartment building on the residential avenue — prompting an order for nearby residents to shelter in place, police said.
Additional units and the Westchester County Hazardous Devices Unit secured the suspicious device and rendered it safe.
White Plains public safety commissioner Wade Hardy said the device was an explosive, but it did not have the ability to be detonated remotely, Lohud reported.
Nearby resident Yulissa Severino told the outlet she heard two loud booms overnight, similar to those heard in the neighborhood in recent weeks.
Despite police not finding anything when Severino heard booms a few weeks ago, she woke Monday to find officers swarming the area and urging her to stay inside as two handcuffed men were led out of the apartment building where the explosive was found.
“Those other times I thought someone was going to blow up the block, it was so loud, like they were experimenting,” Severino said. “There’s a war going on, so you think about that.”
White Plains Police confirmed they are interviewing two “people of interest” in the explosive probe.
An investigation into the incident will be led by the White Plains Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division, with the assistance of Federal Law Enforcement partners, cops said.
“We are pleased to report that there were no reported injuries to anyone or damage to any property,” the police department wrote in a news release.
“At this time, there appears to be no ongoing threat to the public, and our citizens are safe to resume normal activity in the area. There may be some temporary road closures. We understand that this morning’s events caused concern, and we want to assure the public that the safety of our residents remains our top priority.”
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