Port of Charleston Reopened After Threat

The Port of Charleston was closed for more than eight hours Wednesday night into Thursday morning as the United States Coast Guard's Southeast Command investigated a threat.

The person who informed people of the threat has been detained for further questioning. Officials said the threat involved the container ship Maersk Memphis. The Coast Guard received a call around 8 p.m. Eastern saying there was a threat in one of the containers aboard the ship.

The ship was moored at the Wando terminal, which was been evacuated while law enforcement units from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies investigated the threat. A safety zone was established around the terminal while the investigation was underway. A unified command has been established to oversee the coordinated response.

Investigators determined the threat involved four containers aboard the ship. Around 3:30 Thursday morning, the containers were cleared after being scanned, and the Coast Guard started reopening the port.

In addition to the Coast Guard, several other agencies participated in the investigation, including the FBI, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Mount Pleasant Police, Mount Pleasant Fire, Charleston County and the Charleston Port Authority.

File photo was a handout photo via Getty Images News/Getty Images