Local

Pipe bombs thrown in Lincoln Co. yard, ATF investigating

LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C. — Police had to close a road in Lincoln County early Monday morning after they said multiple pipe bombs were found in the front yard of a home.

Officers closed Dalmatian Street off of Highway 73 in Iron Station just after midnight.

According to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, the homeowner called 911 around 12:45 a.m. to report an explosion and small fire in the front yard of the home.

"Someone threw something out of their car and it is burning in the yard. It sounded like crackers," said the 911 caller.

When deputies arrived, they found one unexploded device near the roadway. The Gastonia Bomb Squad was called to the scene and detonated the device.

It was described by police as being a foot-long piece of PVC pipe attached to a small container of propane.

Officers said four pipe bombs in total were found -- three of them were already detonated before police arrived.

No one was injured, and school buses were not allowed to go past the entrance to the subdivision.

"Our neighbor called at 2:30 a.m. and said if somebody leaves they can't come back in," said neighbor Susan Hedge.

Police had never been called to the house before, and neighbors said this is a quiet community.

"I guess anything can happen anywhere, but I didn't think it would happen here," said neighbor Kristen Crumbler.

Some neighbors are now worried about their community.

"I told my wife before I left, my house is going to be on the market within probably the next week or so. I'm getting out of the neighborhood," said Doug Broome.

The scene is clear, but people still wonder why someone threw pipe bombs in the yard.

Agents with the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are investigating the incident. They were seen collecting dirt samples Monday.

A LincAlert was sent out notifying residents about the incident.