Police: Suspected Bomb Was Not Explosive Device

that was found near Front and West Water streets in Hellertown Saturday morning was not a bomb, according to officer Jeff Johnston, who is quoted in an Express-Times story published this afternoon.

The item, which was labeled "suspicious" by police in a press release, turned out to be a piece of PVC pipe filled with birdshot, and was not explosive, Johnston told the newspaper.

Police said in the release that upon initial investigation, "it appeared the item was possibly a pipe bomb."

The discovery of the suspicious item prompted road closures and evacuations in the center of town, as well as a coordinated response by the Bethlehem Police Department Bomb Squad, Northampton County Emergency Management, and , in addition to borough and Lower Saucon Township police.

Evacuated residents were allowed to return to their homes after .

Hellertown police are continuing to investigate the incident, and at this point are unclear if the item was purposely placed where it was found as a prank, according to the Express-Times report.