Ahmad Jamal Khamees Alhendi, a Jordanian national, has been identified as the suspect responsible for the hours-long shutdown of Interstate 85 near Greenville, South Carolina.
The chaos unfolded after Alhendi allegedly issued a bomb threat during a routine traffic stop on Thursday, prompting a massive law enforcement response involving SWAT teams, bomb squads, and federal agencies.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation reported severe backups near Exit 44 at White Horse Road as authorities scrambled to address the threat.
Greenville County deputies, along with the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) bomb squad and the FBI, were deployed to neutralize the potential danger. Governor Henry McMaster confirmed that the shutdown was a precautionary measure taken “out of an abundance of caution.”
“I-85 near mile marker 44 is temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution due to a bomb threat issued during a routine traffic stop this afternoon by SC Transport Police,” Governor McMaster said.
“SCDOT and state law enforcement are on the scene, and normal I-85 traffic will resume once the tractor trailer is swept and cleared by SELD’s bomb squad.”
Hellbound and Down 