Rodoanel Reopens After Suspected Bomb Threat as Police Find No Explosives

Overview

• A truck was left across lanes at km 44–45 of the Rodoanel Mário Covas in Itapecerica da Serra after the driver reported a robbery and said a homemade device was attached to him.
• Special police from the GATE bomb squad, firefighters and Águia helicopters responded, and the driver was removed around 9:15 a.m. appearing disoriented with his hands tied before being taken to a hospital.
• After a technical inspection, including use of police dogs, São Paulo’s Military Police said the suspected artefact was not an explosive and no cargo was found in the rear of the truck.
• The closure caused long backups and diversions toward the Régis Bittencourt, with reports of at least 16 km and up to roughly 40 km of congestion before lanes were cleared after 10 a.m.
• Civil Police are investigating whether the episode was a cargo-robbery sequester or a mental-health episode; the trip originated in Acre and was bound for São Bernardo do Campo.