MOSCOW, November 24 (Sputnik) – Officials at Fort Sam Houston, the US Army base in San Antonio, have lifted a lockdown; a Saudi driver that entered the Texas military base without permission yesterday has been detained.
"Officials at Fort Sam Houston say they've taken into custody the driver of a suspicious vehicle that sparked a lockdown at the San Antonio Army base," the Associated Press reported.
Army officials revealed that the man drove through the checkpoint without stopping and entered the base. The perpetrator was subsequently captured.
A three-hour lockdown imposed at San Antonio base in order to ensure security was lifted late Sunday, according to Alex Delgado, a spokesman for the 502nd Air Base Wing, the Associated Press noted.
It turns out that the man was alone and no other person was involved in the incident. According to the Bexar County Sheriff's Department, the case was "completely" investigated by military police.
Media: Fort Sam Houston lockdown is being handled by military police, not BCSO. We have no units assigned.
— Bexar County Sheriff (@BexarCoSheriff) 24 ноября 2014
KCEN-TV, the NBC-affiliated station for Central Texas has reported, citing the base's military officials, that the man who entered Fort Sam Houston without permission was a Saudi National. The media outlet added that explosives were reportedly found in the vehicle; however, it has not yet been considered "an attempted terrorist attack." The military police are still trying to determine the Saudi national's motive.
The Daily News points out that the base officials dismissed reports about "an active shooter" on the base, saying there was "nothing to indicate there ever was." The perpetrator’s identity has not yet been revealed.
That the Saudi national's actions have not been qualified as "an attempted terrorist attack," although he had explosives in his car has raised numerous questions:
Did you know a Saudi w/explosives in his car ran thru the gate at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio yesterday? http://t.co/sOWCLubFW2
— Donna Diorio (@DonnaDiorio) 24 ноября 2014
A Saudi attempts to drive a car with explosives past the gate at Fort Sam Houston – “not an attempted terrorist attack.” Obama’s America.
— Ken Gardner (@kesgardner) 24 ноября 2014
Laugh or cry? RT @sarahrstevenson: Not an attempted terrorist attack http://t.co/AzIpRKsizn
— Ken Gardner (@kesgardner) 24 ноября 2014
Ft Sam Houston - Saudi National - Explosives in car - Drove thru gate. Motive "Undetermined"? http://t.co/Eywr7YJlEK pic.twitter.com/rGFnycFoZP
— Tom T. (@VRWCTexan) 24 ноября 2014