Suspicious Device at Buffalo Airport Turns Out to be a Hoax

News 7

(Cheektowaga, New York, June 28, 2007) - - What was that peculiar device that caused quite a stir near the Buffalo Airport? When they found it last night authorites feared it was a bomb and called in the FBI. News 4's Mylous Hairston has the latest on the investigation.

It turns out a can found near the airport that looked a lot like an explosive device was nothing more than a hoax. That's what authorities are saying about the device found yesterday evening on Roxborough Avenue in Cheektowaga. The Erie County Sheriff's Office brought in specialized equipment to take a closer look at the can which was found by a tree on NFTA property near the airport.

Authorities tell me the can was made to look like a bomb. An NFTA worker cutting grass made the discovery and called police. NFTA Spokesperson Douglas Hartmayer says, "They brought over one of our bomb sniffing dogs. The dog had a slight reaction to it. The officer then called the sheriff's deparment bomb squad. They came out, had their droid examine it. It was able to go up to the IED-improvised explosive device. It had some wires, a power source and they thought maybe a timer attached to it."

The investigation is continuing. There's a possibilty the person or persons responsible could face federal or local charges.