TUSCUMBIA, AL (WAFF) -
A bomb squad was called to inspect a suspicious package at a Tuscumbia church.
A maintenance man mowing the lawn found the package between 9 and 9:15 a.m. outside the Family Worship Center on Willingham Road.
The Florence bomb squad was brought in and discovered the package contained five 9-volt batteries taped together. Officials said it had no explosive components to it.
Because the package was found near a church, the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms unit was brought into the investigation.
After investigation, it was determined the package was a hoax.
The pastor made phone calls and found kids placed the package there Sunday as a prank while they were there for services.
The family of one of the boys did bring him to the scene as soon as they found out he played a role in the hoax.
No charges have been filed against the kids at this time, but police said a joke or prank like the one they pulled is certainly no laughing matter.
Police said the boys taped five 9-volt batteries together and wrote "Bomb Two" on one side and something else on the other.
Officials said this situation is a very serious offense.
"When you do something like this at any place it's dangerous, but when you do it at a church, it puts a whole different slant on it anyway because it could be considered a hate crime. It takes on a whole different perspective sometimes at a church or public building or something like that, so it's very serious and I would discourage anyone who's got any idea of doing something like this to forget it," said Assistant Chief Terry Sherron with the Tuscumbia Police.
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Officers responded to a "suspicious package" at a Shoals church.
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