Bomb lookalike causes scare outside Everett store

EVERETT — A police bomb squad was called to a supermarket parking lot in Everett on Wednesday morning — the 12th anniversary of terrorist attacks on America — after someone left a pressure cooker that officials believe was meant to look like an explosive.

Bomb technicians cordoned off the area in the Fred Meyer parking lot, 12906 Bothell-Everett Highway and detonated the device. They determined that it did not contain explosives.

The pressure cooker had been placed near a gas pump, Everett police officer Aaron Snell said.

“It was definitely put in plain sight,” he said.

Police believe the device was made to look like the bombs used at the Boston Marathon earlier this year to instill fear and cause alarm, Snell said.

The FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives joined Everett police at the scene.

The pressure cooker was dropped off just before 5:45 a.m.

Police on Wednesday morning were working to get a description of the car and the person who left it there, Snell said.

A customer saw what happened and called 911.

The multi-agency bomb squad used special equipment to investigate the device.

“Everett police will continue the investigation by interviewing potential witnesses and reviewing surveillance video,” Snell said.

North and southbound traffic was stopped for about 10 minutes on the Bothell-Everett Highway.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call 911 or the Everett Police Department tip line at 425-257-8450.

Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com

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