Navy: Suspect who entered Washington base in custody

SILVERDALE (AP) — Navy officials say a male driver who claimed to have explosives when he entered the gate of a nuclear submarine base in Washington state is in custody.

Officials at Naval Base Kitsap said Thursday afternoon that the situation was under control and the investigation has yet to turn up any explosives.

Naval Base Kitsap at Bangor in Kitsap County is home to the Navy’s Trident submarine fleet and strategic nuclear weapons facility.

Officials said the driver of a black SUV went to the gate on the base’s east side about 9 a.m. Thursday. He claimed to have an explosive device on his body and his SUV. He was apprehended and is in the custody of the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office.

Navy officials had closed all gates at the base and at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Keyport.

By afternoon, the gate remained closed but another reopened to traffic. Other installations also returned to normal operations.