Concern About Possible Terror Threat Brings FBI To Tewksbury

State and Federal law enforcement officials were called to Tewksbury on Saturday to investigate a possible terror threat.

State Police from Troop A, the State Police bomb squad, troopers assigned to the Commonwealth Fusion Center, troopers and FBI agents assigned to the Joint Terrorism Task Force, and the all converged on the AVSG alternative fuel pumping station, located at 4 Clark Road, near Stadium Plaza.

Log records indicate the incident began just after 2 p.m. when a spotted a late model Volkswagon mini-van with two men at the fueling station

"What drew the officer's interest were two tanks intended to store compressed natural gas (CNG) in the interior back of the minivan," said State Police spokesman David Procopio. "The two male occupants appeared to be of Middle Eastern descent, but the factor that raised the officer's suspicion were the tanks in the back of the van."

According to Procopio, the Tewksbury officer interviewed the two men and requested backup. In the meantime, notifications went out to the state and federal agencies.

"The agents, troopers, and officers further interviewed the two men and examined the van," said Procopio. "Following the interviews and the examination of the minivan, police determined that the tanks in the back were part of a retrofit of the vehicle, apparently undertaken by the two men, to allow the minivan to run on (compressed natural gas)."

The men involved were not named but were identified as a 20-year-old from Boston and a 28-year-old from East Boston. Procopio said the men face no charges, as no criminal conduct was determined. However, he said a citation may be issued against the owner of the vehicle for not having the proper registration for an alternative fuel vehicle.

While the situation turned out to be a false alarm, Procopio said Tewksbury Police were completely justified in their actions and that proper protocols were followed.

"The response and investigation was entirely appropriate given the strange circumstance of the alternative fuel tanks having been attached into the interior of the vehicle," he said "In this day and age, police by necessity must be on alert for anything that appears out of the ordinary, and the Tewksbury police deserve credit for being just that and taking appropriate action.

"This is part of what law enforcement looks like -- what our mission demands -- in the age of terror. As you know, the men's explanation was credible, and no one is more grateful for that than us. We are grateful, also, to the two occupants of the vehicle for their cooperation."

was not immediately available for comment.