A Union Pacific train was stopped in Sylmar after a conductor found what he believed to be some kind of bomb that was later determined to be a harmless shipping paperwork container, police said Wednesday.
The Union Pacific train No. 7363 was stopped at 2 p.m. at Roxford Street and San Fernando Road (map) after the conductor found what he believed to be an “IED,” Los Angeles Police Department Officer Tony Im.
After spotting an individual jump off the train and run away, the conductor stopped the train and went to check the spot where the person had been on board, LAPD Sgt. West Albin said.
At that spot, the conductor found a device in a cylindrical container that looked like a pipe bomb, but it turned out to be a manifest container that holds paperwork, Albin said.
After an LAPD bomb squad was called to the scene, police verified the train was safe.
Aerial video from Sky5 showed the front of the train had stopped under the transition road bridge from the northbound 5 Freeway to the eastbound 210 Freeway.