Bomb squad probes package found at Ariz nuke plant

WINTERSBURG, Ariz. – Authorities are investigating a suspicious package found at a nuclear power plant west of Phoenix.

Maricopa County Sheriff's spokesman Brian Lee says security officers at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station called them at about 5 a.m. Wednesday after they found the suspicious package. A second call initially led to confusion that a second device may have been found, but that was quickly discounted.

Lee says a sheriff's bomb squad is investigating.

A spokesman for plant operator Arizona Public Service Co. says security guards found the suspicious package during a search of a vehicle at a checkpoint about a mile from the plant.

The plant is operating normally, but traffic in and out is stopped.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

WINTERSBURG, Ariz. (AP) — Authorities are investigating a suspicious device and package found at a nuclear power plant west of Phoenix.

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office says security officers at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station called them at about 5 a.m. Wednesday after they found the suspicious device. About 30 minutes later, deputies got a second call about a suspicious package found at the plant.

A sheriff's spokesman says the area where the items were found has been evacuated and a sheriff's bomb squad is investigating.

The triple-reactor plant 50 miles west of Phoenix is the nation's largest nuclear power facility.

Calls seeking additional information were not immediately returned.