ANKENY, Iowa. (AP) — Police say the discovery of a live pipe bomb at a central Iowa polling place forced an evacuation of the building.
Police responded Tuesday morning after a device that looked like a pipe bomb was found outside the Lakeside Center in Ankeny, where residents were voting on an Ankeny school district special election. No one was injured.
The building was evacuated, and the State Fire Marshal and agents with the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were called in.
Technicians safely detonated the device, and the center was reopened around 12:30 p.m. Police later confirmed that the device was a pipe bomb.
Officials don’t know whether the pipe bomb was related to the election and police say an investigation into who left the device is continuing.
U.S. Congresswoman Cindy Axne issued the following statement on the incident:
“I’m deeply concerned to learn that a pipe bomb was found at a polling place in Ankeny earlier today.
This threat to our elections is unacceptable, and those responsible should be held accountable for this attempted violence against our democracy and its citizens.
I want to thank our law enforcement officers, first responders, and local election officials who acted quickly to protect Iowa voters and poll workers.”
Download our apps today for all of our latest coverage.
Get the latest news and weather delivered straight to your inbox.
