Suspected Pipe Bomb Clogs Traffic

Drivers on the San Diego and Ventura freeways were delayed for more than an hour Sunday after a suspected pipe bomb was discovered on the San Diego Freeway and authorities later blew it up.

The California Highway Patrol closed all lanes of the San Diego Freeway near Burbank Boulevard after a Caltrans worker discovered what looked like a pipe bomb on the road’s northbound right shoulder.

The Los Angeles Police Department’s bomb squad was summoned to examine the 4-inch-long aluminum pipe, which was covered with black tape, and decided to destroy it in a special container, said Officer Lorie Taylor, a department spokeswoman.

Police examined the debris to determine if it actually was a bomb, but were not available Sunday night to say what they had found.

“I assume that if it was a bomb, it could have damaged passing traffic, and the highway itself,” said Taylor.

A Caltrans worker spotted the suspicious-looking pipe about 8:45 a.m. and notified the CHP, which called in the LAPD, Taylor said.

Police officers from the LAPD’s Van Nuys Division and the bomb squad arrived about 9:40, and the CHP closed the north and southbound lanes from 10 to 11:10 a.m. while the bomb was examined and destroyed where it was found, Taylor said.

CHP officers closed the ramps connecting the Ventura and San Diego freeways, causing long traffic jams on the freeways and nearby surface streets.

A nearby section of Burbank Boulevard was also closed off during that time, Taylor said.