Pressure cooker found in car near U.S. Capitol, detonated by bomb squad

A bomb squad detonated a pressure cooker found in a car parked near the U.S. Capitol on Sunday, and an Alexandria, Virginia resident was arrested.

Israel Shimeles was charged with operating after revocation, U.S. Capitol Police spokeswoman Lt. Kimberly Schneider said in a statement. Lt. Schneider did not offer further comment on the nature of the charge.

Shimeles is the owner of the vehicle that contained the pressure cooker, and was being processed at Capitol Police headquarters.

Capitol police patrolling the area west of the Capitol noticed a suspicious vehicle around 5 p.m. on a street that crosses the National Mall between Constitution Avenue and Independence Avenue.

Officers smelled gasoline, and a bomb squad was called in and streets were closed off. The pressure cooker was detonated around 7:45 p.m., producing a loud bang.

A source indicated that the pressure cooker may have been part of a propane tank used for a food truck, Fox News reported.

A nearby Memorial Day concert featuring singer Gloria Estefan and appearances by Gen. Colin Powell and Gen. Martin Dempsey was not affected by the bomb scare.

⦁ This article is based in part on wire service reports.