E-Mailed Bomb Threat Evacuates Hopkinton Building

A lithium battery manufacturer's Westborough, Hopkinton and Dedham facilities were evacuated Monday due to a bomb threat e-mailed to the firm's headquarters.

State police and A123 Systems' information technology department "determined that the e-mail was sent by a man who was known to make prank bomb threats," according to the incident report.

said they responded to check out a suspicious vehicle in the area of the threat which they determined to be a shuttle bus for  that was parked while the driver took a break. Police said they did not play any other role in investigationg the threat, just checking the vehicle.

A123 Systems has its Energy Solutions Group at the Westborough site, according to the firm's website. A123 Systems "develops and manufactures advanced Nanophosphate lithium iron phosphate batteries and energy storage systems that deliver high power and energy density, long life, and excellent safety performance," the site notes.

The Westborough facility's building manager reported that A123 Systems' corporate headquarters, in Waltham, received an e-mail stating that "a bomb had been placed in one" of the company's five buildings, the incident report says.