Hotel Bomb Scare Expected to Cause Rush-Hour Delays

A bomb scare at a hotel near Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon is expected to cause traffic delays into the afternoon rush hour.

At about 1:40 p.m., a bomb threat was called into the Sheraton National Hotel, 900 S. Orme St. An individual told the hotel that a bomb would detonate on the street level by 3 p.m.

That hasn't happened.

Arlington County police sent bomb dogs out to check the legitimacy of the threat, spokesman Dustin Sternbeck said.

The immediate area was cleared and the hotel was evacuated as a precautionary measure, he said.

"They haven't found anything indicating this was a legitimate threat," Sternbeck said.

Virginia State Police and Pentagon officials are on the scene assisting police, Sternbeck said.

South Orme Street, between Columbia Pike and Southgate Road, is closed.

An Arlington County alert advises motorists to expect heavy traffic and delays along Columbia Pike between Washington Boulevard and South Hayes Street through rush hour.