Above, the area surrounding the Shell Quick Mart facility was blocked off to prevent traffic from reaching the parking lot as local and state law enforcement officers investigated the discovery of an object being described as a “pipe bomb” in a vehicle. Below, officers with the Kentucky State Police are shown looking on as the device is examined At far left, a closer look at the robot used by the Hazardous Devices Unit in situations where officers could be otherwise placed in harms way.

During the previous seven months, Clinton County has had to deal with two bomb threats.

The first came on September 5, when a threat was called into the Clinton County High School.

A second threat, and one that ended up being more credible, earned the attention again of local and state law enforcement this past Saturday night.

The difference in that September threat and the one called in Saturday night, was an actual explosive device was found at the most recent event.

Albany Police Officer Ricky Marcum, along with fellow Albany Police Officer Brad Cross, were among the first officers on the scene along with Kentucky State Police Troopers Brian Gibson and Jason Warinner.

The officers found the explosive device inside a truck parked in the Shell Quick Mart parking lot, in south Albany.

The first call regarding the posibility of an explosive device came in to dispatch at 10:29 p.m. Saturday night. When officers arrived on scene, a juvenile was sitting behind the wheel of the suspected pickup truck. The juvenile was subsequently cited for DUI.

“Our main objective was to apprehend the subjects involved, clear the scene and wait for the bomb unit,” Marcum said.

Marcum said once he arrived on scene he located the driver of the vehicle as well as the explosive device which was in the glove box of the pickup parked in the upper parking lot area of Quick Mart Shell.

At 11 p.m., Saturday night, the parking lot of the gas station was completely blocked, as well as U.S. 127. Albany Firefighters, as well as Clinton County EMS were on the scene to control traffic, directing oncoming vehicles to either Tennessee Shortcut Rd. or the 127 By-Pass.

The names of the person or persons responsible for building and obtaining the explosive device, which ended up being what is being described by authorities as a “pipe bomb,” hasn’t been released by the Kentucky State Police.

It was confirmed by Marcum that juveniles were involved and those names will most likely not be released to the public.

The Clinton County News contacted KSP Detective Chris Walker Monday morning concerning the investigation, and at that time, he said no one has been charged in the incident, but the investigation is ongoing.

Officials kept the parking lot blocked off for nearly four hours late Saturday night into early Sunday morning.

Most of the down time was due to the arrival of the KSP HDU or Hazardous Devices Unit to travel from Frankfort to assess the situation.

Just after 2 a.m. Sunday morning, a loud bang was heard, resulting in the bomb squad disassembling the pipe bomb with a remote control robotic unit.

According to KSP Trooper Warinner, the robotic unit is similar to those used oversees in the military.

The KSP HDU consists of four hazardous devices technicians certified by the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Technicians have received training in aspects of hazardous materials response in accordance with the Occupation Safety and Health Administration regulations. They are also certified with Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS).

The investigation is ongoing by the Kentucky State Police, Albany Police Department and the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department.