Suspicious device found on rental car at Albuquerque airport

Federal and local authorities declared a suspicious device found on a rental car at Albuquerque’s airport to be safe Sunday and are now launching investigations into how it got there.

Avis Budget Rental next to the Albuquerque International Sunport was initially shut down when the device was found during a check of a returned car, police spokesman Simon Drobik said. A bomb unit was called in to secure the device.

Meanwhile, travelers returning cars were diverted to another lot. But the airport remained open and no flights were affected.

The device appeared to be some sort of pipe bomb, Albuquerque TV station KRQE (http://bit.ly/1O9S8kI ) reported.

Drobik said the police bomb unit initially inspected the device but has now handed it over to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Agents from ATF and the FBI will conduct a separate investigation. They will look into the location from where the vehicle was rented and who was the last to occupy it, Drobik said.

All roads in the area reopened by the early afternoon. Police also declared a parking terminal secure.