Suspected illegal immigrant’s hoax bomb threat closes SC highway

A person suspected of being an illegal immigrant was detained South Carolina Thursday after officials say he made a fake bomb threat during a traffic stop that eventually shut down part of Interstate 85 for nearly five hours.

According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS), Ahmed Jamal Khamees Alhendi, 28, was pulled over by state traffic police around 2:45 p.m. for not having a license plate on his tractor trailer.

At this time Alhendi a police officer said that there was an explosive device inside the commercial vehicle.

Ahmed Jamal Khamees Alhendi was arrested in South Carolina after authorities say he made a fake bomb threat during a traffic stop. (Greenville County Jail)

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All six lanes of I-85 were closed as the crash was investigated by the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the FBI.

The closure near Mile Marker 44 caused long delays and caused bumper-to-bumper traffic.

The 18-wheeler was eventually cleared and all lanes of I-85 were reopened at approximately 7:40 p.m.

Alhendi appeared in court Friday and charged with falsely reporting a bomb threat, high and aggravated breach of peace and no vehicle license.

A police vehicle closes a portion of I-85 near Mile Marker 44 and White Horse Road in Greenville County on Jan. 2, 2025, due to a bomb threat. (ALEX HICKS JR./STAFF / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

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Fox Carolina reports that he was given a $20,238 bond on all three charges and remanded to the Greenville County Detention Center.

A spokeswoman for the Greenville County Detention Center told Fox News Digital that Alhendi was placed in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer with a notice of potential illegal immigrant subject to removal.

Police direct traffic on I-85 after bomb threat. (ALEX HICKS JR./STAFF / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

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Fox News Digital contacted ICE and FBI For more information on Alhendi.

SCDPS said the tractor-trailer is registered to Globe Transportation in Illinois.

A company spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital that Alhendi was working for Globe Transportation, but the company would not comment at the time.