WASHINGTON: The Egyptian embassy office in the US and several homes were evacuated Wednesday after a grenade was found at a northwest Washington park, but authorities determined it was not a live explosive.
The grenade was found across the street from an office of the Egyptian Embassy, FBI spokeswoman Debbie Weierman said. There was no known terrorist connection, she said.
Diplomat Mohamed Hanafi said the office was closed to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan. However, a few workers had to be evacuated while military bomb experts worked to remove the grenade, authorities said.
US Park Police spokesman Sgt. Robert Lachance said a maintenance worker found the explosive Wednesday morning in a ball field at Rock Creek Park.
Some nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution, but Lachance didn t know exactly how many.
Police temporarily closed 16th Street, a busy commuter route, and two side streets. -AP
