Suitcases at Abingdon Target Had Arabic on Luggage Tags: Officials

ABINGDON, MD – Suspicious suitcases outside Target in Constant Friendship have been deemed not a threat, the Harford County Sheriff's Office said in a statement Thursday afternoon.

Authorities said they were notified at 10:48 a.m. about a suspicious package at the Target in the 400 block of Constant Friendship Boulevard in Abingdon.

Deputies found two suitcases in the parking lot, according to Major William Davis, a spokesman for the sheriff's office. "Based on the circumstances...we decided to use all the caution that we could," he said.

Officers saw Arabic writing on a luggage tag affixed to the suitcases and established a perimeter, evacuated the store and called in the bomb squad, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, whose bomb technicians arrived by 11:30 a.m.

"In today's times, especially with what happened overseas just recently, we want to make sure we're using all the caution that we can to make sure everybody is safe," Major Davis said, alluding to the attacks in Brussels on Tuesday. "Obviously, it's pretty unusual for somebody to leave two suitcases sitting out in a parking lot in the middle of the afternoon at Target."

The bomb squad used a water cannon to "explode the packages," a technique that is deployed "when they aren't necessarily able to get into [them]," Davis said.

After a loud noise rang out near the Abingdon Target at approximately 2:15 p.m., the Harford County Sheriff's Office gave the all clear, stating: "The suspicious packages were not a threat."

The Office of the State Fire Marshal reported the suitcases contained clothing.

Businesses and roads in the area were reopening as of 3:10 p.m., according to the sheriff's office; Target reopened at approximately 4 p.m., the fire marshal said, following scans of the store.

Earlier in the day, customers were evacuated from Target and citizens were asked to avoid the area. Constant Friendship Boulevard had been closed at Tollgate Road, and MD 924 was closed at MD 24 for police activity. Those in area businesses were advised to shelter in place, according to the sheriff's office.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Abingdon Fire Company and the Harford County Sheriff's Office assisted with the investigation.

The sheriff's office is trying to locate the owner(s) of the luggage.

Photo Credit: Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association.