Driver of semi truck in I-85 bomb threat incident in South Carolina identified, charged

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) has identified and listed the charges filed against a suspect in a semi truck who shut down an interstate on Thursday with a baseless bomb threat.

On Friday morning, officials identified 28 year old Ahmad Jamal Khamees Alhendi of Oak Lawn, Illinois, as the driver involved in the major bomb threat incident on I-85 at mile marker 44 in Greenville County on Thursday.

Alhendi is facing the following charges:

• Breach of peace of a high and aggravated nature
• Conveying false information about a bomb threat– “Concerning an attempt or alleged attempt being made or to be made to kill, injure, or intimidate any person or to damage or destroy any building or other real or personal property by means of an explosive, incendiary, or destructive device…”
• Operating/permitting an unregistered vehicle

The SCDPS also stated that the tractor trailer involved was registered to Globe Transportation out of Illinois.

The charges stem from an incident that began around 2:45 p.m. on January 2 when a South Carolina State Transport Police officer initiated a traffic stop on the semi truck due to a license plate on the trailer.

Officials say that during the traffic stop, Alhendi indicated that there was an explosive device inside the commercial vehicle.

This led police to shut down all six lanes of I-85 in both directions for public safety.

The bomb threat was investigated by the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, SLED, and the FBI, and the vehicle was cleared.

All lanes of I-85 reopened around 7:40 p.m. on Thursday.