State Police Detonate Explosive at Manassas Office Complex

Update 6:30 p.m.

Much of this the activity in this active investigation appears to be centered on the building the houses the offices of the National Religious Broadcasters headquarters. The company’s website states its mission is to “to proclaim the Good News of eternal life through Jesus Christ; to transform culture through the application of sound biblical teaching; and to advance biblical truth, to promote media excellence, and to defend free speech.”

No injuries were reported following the successful detonation of the explosive device.

Officials from the FBI, ATF, and other agencies have been called in to investigate.

More in a press release from prepared by City of Manassas officials:

This afternoon at 3 p.m., City of Manassas Police and Fire & Rescue units responded to 9510 Technology Drive for a report of a possible explosive device. Employees of the business were evacuated and Technology Drive and Foster Drive in the City of Manassas have been closed to traffic. Route 28 remains open.

City of Manassas Police have been working with the State Police, the FBI and the ATF to determine if this device was explosive. The Virginia State Police have detonated the device found in the business and there is evidence of a black powder residue. The make up of the device is still under investigation.

6:15 p.m.

MANASSAS, Va. — A small explosion could be heard this evening at outside an office complex on Technology Drive in Manassas.

State police detonated a device that looked like a pipe bomb just before 6 p.m. Manassas spokeswoman Patty Prince said their was evidence of black powder contained inside the device, indicating an explosive device was present at the office complex.

Black powder is a common explosive chemical agent used in pipe bombs. 

Police are remain on the scene and an investigation is ongoing.

As the sun was setting Monday afternoon, emergency crews were called to this office park along Va. 28 for a report of an explosive device, said Manassas spokeswoman Patty Prince.

The offices and a nearby funeral home are closed at this hour as police conduct their investigation. Buses bound for a Minnieland daycare center also on the property have been allowed to pass a police barricade, but all other traffic has not been allowed to enter the complex.

We’ll have more on this as it develops.