Bomb scare in South Carolina BMW parking lot

SPARTANBURG, SC — The BMW plant in South Carolina was temporarily placed on lockdown while authorities investigated a possible bomb in the plant’s parking lot that turned out to be a water purification system.

Local TV stations quoted Spartanburg County sheriff’s deputies as saying a 45-to-55-gallon drum with wires coming out of it was found Friday evening next to a car. The deputies said callers told them there was a chlorine smell coming from the drum.

Sheriff Chuck Wright told the stations that after the bomb squad arrived on the scene, the owner of the device arrived and explained what it really was.

No one at the sheriff’s office could be reached immediately for comment Friday night.

Multiple fire departments, a hazardous materials team and other support personnel responded to the scene.