New Jersey

Traveler Carrying Clock Sparks ‘Suspicious Item' Scare on NJ Transit Bus

Police say a traveler returning home from Israel with a clock sparked a security scare on a New Jersey Transit bus Thursday morning, with fellow passengers reporting the item as suspicious and a bomb squad coming to inspect the timepiece.  

U.S. Route 9 was shut down in both directions near County Road 520 in Marlboro at about 9 a.m. because passengers aboard an NJ Transit bus saw the man's clock and reported it to the driver, who contacted police, according to the Marlboro Township police. 

When cops arrived on scene, they talked to the driver, every passenger aboard the bus and the man with the clock, who said he used the item to keep track of time. 

New Jersey State Police also responded to the scene, and a bomb squad checked over the clock and determined that it didn't pose any threat.

Most of the passengers continued on to their final destinations after the scare, but the man with the clock was taken in for additional questioning. They say they determined that the man, in his 20s, didn't pose any threat, and he was taken to his home in Lakewood. 

The roadway was closed for about an hour while police investigated. 

State police later tweeted thanks to passengers who reported the suspicious activity. 

"High 5 to citizens reporting suspicious activity on bus. No threat, but that's the way it's supposed to work. See something say something," the agency said.

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