Truck Driver's False Bomb Threat Shuts Down I-85 for Hours in South Carolina

     A routine traffic stop on Interstate 85 in Greenville County, South Carolina, escalated into a major security incident on Thursday, January 2, 2025, when a truck driver claimed to have a bomb in his tractor-trailer. The incident led to a five-hour closure of the interstate, causing significant traffic disruptions and prompting a large-scale law enforcement response

At approximately 2:45 p.m., a South Carolina State Transport Police officer initiated a traffic stop on a tractor-trailer near mile marker 44 due to a missing license plate on the trailer. During the stop, the driver, later identified as 28-year-old Ahmad Jamal Khamees Alhendi of Oak Lawn, Illinois, indicated that there was an explosive device inside the commercial vehicle.

The bomb threat triggered an immediate and extensive response from multiple law enforcement agencies:

• The Greenville County Sheriff's Office SWAT and Bomb Team were deployed to the scene.
• The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the FBI joined the investigation.
• As a precautionary measure, authorities closed all six lanes of I-85 in both directions.

The interstate closure caused significant traffic congestion in the area. To alleviate the situation:

• Detours were posted, and the public was urged to avoid I-85 in the affected area.
• Interstate 185, also known as the Southern Connector, suspended tolls to help manage traffic flow.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster issued a statement explaining that the closure was implemented as a precautionary measure due to the bomb threat.

After a thorough investigation, law enforcement determined that there were no explosive devices in the vehicle. All lanes of I-85 were reopened at approximately 7:40 p.m., about five hours after the initial closure.

Alhendi was taken into custody without incident and is now facing several charges, including:

• Breach of peace of a high and aggravated nature
• Conveying false information about a bomb threat
• Operating/permitting an unregistered vehicle

The tractor-trailer involved in the incident was reportedly registered to Globe Transportation out of Illinois. This incident serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of making false threats and the significant disruptions they can cause to public safety and transportation infrastructure. Law enforcement agencies continue to emphasize the importance of reporting suspicious activities while warning against making false claims that can lead to criminal charges and widespread public inconvenience.