The State Police says ‘suspicious packages’ turned out to be backpacks with clothing and trash.
Maine State Police reopened the Kennebunk service plaza and a nearby exit on the Maine Turnpike on Friday afternoon after investigating two “suspicious packages” found at the southbound rest stop.
The packages turned out to be backpacks – one containing clothing and the other trash.
The plaza off the southbound lanes of Interstate 95 and the Exit 25 ramp that runs around the service station were closed by the Maine Turnpike Authority around 12:45 p.m.
“The state police closed the service plaza due to a suspicious package or packages. They are handling it at this point, and the bomb squad has been called,” said Erin Courtney, spokeswoman for the turnpike authority.
Courtney said all employees of the plaza were evacuated.
The plaza and exit were reopened at midafternoon.
“After being examined by a State Police bomb technician, the two items were deemed to pose no safety threat and the plaza is now reopening,” Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety, announced shortly before 3:15 p.m.
One of the backpacks, found near a gas pump about 11 a.m., contained clothing, according to McCausland. The other backpack, found around 1 p.m. in a trash can, contained trash.
Scott Dolan can be contacted at 791-6304 or at:
Twitter: scottddolan
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