Improvised Incendiary Device Removed, Blue Ridge Parkway Evacuated, Section Closed

On June 1, an improvised incendiary device was found on the Blue Ridge Parkway near the Folk Art Center in Asheville, prompting an immediate evacuation of the Center and a temporary closure of a section of the parkway. Multiple agencies, including the National Park Service, Asheville Police Department’s Bomb Squad, FBI, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and local fire and emergency personnel, responded to safely remove the device. Authorities have stated there are no known threats to the public at this time. The National Park Service’s Investigative Services Branch is leading the ongoing investigation and has urged anyone with information to contact them via phone, online, or email. The incident highlights coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local agencies to ensure public safety on a popular national parkway.