Suspected illegal immigrant’s fake bomb threat shuts down SC highway
A suspected illegal immigrant, Ahmad Jamal Khamees Alhendi, was apprehended in South Carolina after allegedly making a fake bomb threat during a routine traffic stop, resulting in a portion of Interstate 85 being closed down for nearly five hours. The incident occurred when Alhendi, 28, was pulled over by state transport police for a missing license plate on his tractor-trailer at around 2:45 p.m., as reported by the South Carolina Dept. of Public Safety (SCDPS).
Alhendi informed a police officer that there was an explosive device inside the commercial vehicle, prompting authorities to shut down all six lanes of I-85 near Mile Marker 44. The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and the FBI conducted an investigation into the threat, causing significant traffic delays.
After the 18-wheeler was cleared, I-85 was reopened at approximately 7:40 p.m. Alhendi appeared in court the following day and was charged with conveying false information about a bomb threat, breach of peace of high and aggravated nature, and not having a vehicle license. He was assigned a total surety bond of $20,238 for all charges and was taken to the Greenville County Detention Center.
A spokesperson for the detention center revealed that Alhendi was placed on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer, indicating the possibility of his removal from the country as an illegal immigrant. Additionally, the tractor-trailer involved in the incident is registered with Globe Transportation in Illinois.
The company confirmed that Alhendi is an employee, but declined to provide further comments. Fox News Digital reached out to ICE and the FBI for additional details on Alhendi. Michael Dorgan, a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, contributed to this report. For tips or inquiries, contact michael.dorgan@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @M_Dorgan.
