(The Associated Press circulated the following article on July 6.)
PORTAGE, Wis. — Authorities investigated a series of bomb threats directed at an Amtrak train Tuesday, stranding nearly 300 passengers, some of whom had fireworks in their luggage.
The train, running a combined route from Seattle and Portland, Ore., to Chicago, was stopped Tuesday afternoon in Portage, about 80 miles northwest of Milwaukee.
The 282 passengers and crew members were taken to a nearby elementary school for questioning while explosive specialists searched the train.
Police found that some passengers had fireworks in their luggage, said Columbia County Sheriff’s Lt. Detective Wayne Smith.
No other explosives were aboard.
The train resumed its trip about 7:30 p.m., more than six hours after it was stopped.