Fort Washington Park remained closed Monday as Prince George’s County and federal authorities investigated explosive devices that were found in the wooded areas of the historic site.
More explosive devices were found at the park along the Potomac River on Monday morning, a day after five others were located Sunday afternoon, Prince George’s County Fire Department officials said in a statement on social media. The devices found Sunday were rendered safe, and county fire officials were working on doing the same for those discovered Monday.
Katherine Rottman, a spokesperson for federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Baltimore, said all evidence recovered will be taken to the agency’s national lab in Ammendale, in Prince George’s County. Officials said there is no current threat to the public, but warned people to be alert in case they come across any suspected explosive devices.
“If anyone comes across devices that look like the ones we posted photos of, don’t touch them. Leave the area and call 911,” said Michael Yourishin, a spokesperson for Prince George’s County Fire Department.
The U.S. Park Police responded to reports of “two suspicious packages resembling pipe bombs” around 2:15 p.m. Sunday and closed the park as a precautionary measure, officials said in an email. Until fully cleared, Park Police officials said, Fort Washington will remain closed.

Last fall, Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in south Baltimore had to shut down for a day after renovation crews unearthed a cannonball that turned out to be a dud.
Fort Washington Park is typically open to visitors daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The park was originally developed in the early 19th century to protect the nation’s capital during conflicts such as the Mexican War and the Civil War, according to its website. It has been under the management of the National Park Service since the mid-1940s.






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