College student detained in Fort Sam Houston lockdown, had no explosives in car

Officials with Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston have detained a "local" college student following a lockdown at Fort Sam Houston on Sunday. Officials with Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston have detained a "local" college student following a lockdown at Fort Sam Houston on Sunday. Photo: Twitter Photo: Twitter Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close College student detained in Fort Sam Houston lockdown, had no explosives in car 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — Officials with Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston have released a “local” college student who was detained Sunday following a lockdown there.

The base was put on heightened security measures Sunday and went into lockdown for four hours because of a suspicious vehicle “that attempted to access the installation without appropriate credentials through the Harry Wurzbach (Road) gate,” according to a news release issued Monday afternoon.

“The lockdown was initiated as a precaution to ensure the safety and security of the service members, employees and families stationed at Joint Base San Antonio – Fort Sam Houston,” Brig. Gen. Robert LaBrutta, 502nd Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio commander, said in the release. “Once JBSA law enforcement and the explosive ordnance disposal specialists were able to verify the vehicle posed no threat, the lockdown was lifted and we resumed normal operations.”

The release stated that the Air Force Office of Special Investigations concluded their investigation and “determined there is no nexus to terrorism.”

Alex Delgado, a 502nd Air Base Wing spokesman, said early Monday that officials would not release the student's name, race, age or other identifying information, but said he attends or attended a “local” college.

The driver of the vehicle was detained for questioning and released.

No other passengers were in the vehicle, the release stated.

Two Joint Base San Antonio officials — Delgado and Todd White, director of public affairs — told the San Antonio Express-News on Monday that officials did not find explosives or weapons in the man's vehicle Sunday night, contrary to some media reports that indicated the man was a “Saudi national” with explosives in his car.

White said a suspicious vehicle was searched, but "there was nothing in it."

Both Delgado and White declined to confirm the man's nationality.

The lockdown ran from 5:30 p.m. to around 9 p.m. Sunday night after a “suspicious vehicle” was reported to authorities.

Staff Writer Elizabeth Zavala contributed to this report.

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