Saugerties neighborhood evacuated after bomb found in abandoned apartment

SAUGERTIES – The neighborhood around 142 Burt Street in the Village of Saugerties was evacuated at mid-afternoon on Tuesday when an improvised explosive device was found in a vacant apartment.
A contractor had been hired to clean out the abandoned residence when he encountered the device on the floor. Along with it was a note indicating it was an explosive, pressure sensitive, and cautioning that touching it could set it off.
Saugerties Police established a perimeter and evacuated all area residents and commercial businesses. Route 9W in both directions was closed to traffic after the 2:30 p.m. discovery.
The State Police bomb squad was called in, determined it to be incendiary, and remove it.
Route 9W was reopened shortly after 5p.m. and all residents were permitted to return home.
Saugerties Police detectives are continuing their investigation into the incident in an effort to determine who manufactured the bomb and why it was in the apartment.
Assisting Saugerties Police were the Saugerties Fire Department, Glasco Fire Department, Diaz Ambulance, State Police bomb squad and Ulster County 911/Emergency Management.