Construction equipment battery explodes, closing police HQ

Columbus, Ohio, police headquarters in July 2009 (Photo: Wiki Historian N OH / Wikimedia)Columbus, Ohio, police headquarters in July 2009 (Photo: Wiki Historian N OH / Wikimedia)

The battery in a piece of construction equipment located in the lobby of Columbus, Ohio, police headquarters exploded last night, causing the building to be evacuated and streets in the Downtown Columbus area to be shut down for about 5 hours, according to a Columbus Dispatch report.

The battery in the equipment, about the size of a truck battery, powered a hydraulic ladder that was being used to add insulation the inside of the building, Columbus Division of Police Chief Kim Jacobs said, according to the Dispatch report.

FBI and anti-terrorism investigators were brought in, according to the report, but there was no indication of an attack on the building. No one was hurt and no damage occurred.

The explosion caused no damage to the department’s emergency and non-emergency lines, Fox News reported.

A construction equipment battery (pictured) exploded in Columbus, Ohio, Tuesday night, shutting down police headquarters for several hours. (Photo courtesy WBNS)A construction equipment battery (pictured) exploded in Columbus, Ohio, Tuesday night, shutting down police headquarters for several hours. (Photo courtesy WBNS)