A bomb threat called in to Virginia State Police this morning had Norfolk residents on edge and Homeland Security and members of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force on guard.

The threat involved the Hampton Road Bridge area, prompting law enforcement to initiate inspections of all vehicles as they passed through today. The police department released a statement, warning drivers of the inspections while attempting to quell fears that a terrorism risk was a possibility.

“At approximately 7:50 a.m., Wednesday (Sept. 11, 2013), Virginia State Police received a phone call regarding a bomb threat within the Hampton Roads region. The threat included a timeframe for the threat to occur, which has since expired. At this time, no incidents have been reported anywhere in the Hampton Roads region. As a precautionary measure, state police immediately stepped up patrols within the region as well as initiated commercial vehicle inspections along Interstates 64 and 664. For the safety of the motoring public, the inspections will continue throughout the day due to it being the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks. State police have also been working with federal and local law enforcement to evaluate the threat, and to supplement patrol and inspection resources. The incident remains under investigation. Due to the nature of today’s anniversary, state police across the Commonwealth have been on heightened alert for the safety of the Commonwealth and its citizens. ”

The inspections caused a major traffic jam on both sides of the bridge for about seven miles, but no incidents or injuries were reported.