An explosion at a bar in the Guam Hilton injured two people and forced the evacuation of the hotel, but investigators found no evidence it was terror-related, officials on the US Pacific territory said yesterday.
The blast late on Thursday caused a major security scare on Guam, which is home to about 6,000 US military personnel, with the FBI and Homeland Security rushing to secure the scene and investigate its cause.
Hotel guests were cleared from the premises while sniffer dogs looking for explosives swept the resort, but failed to find anything suspicious.
Police said yesterday that inquiries into the cause of the blast were ongoing, while Governor Eddie Calvo's office said: "There is no indication at this time that this was an act of terrorism."
Acting chief of police Colonel Maurice Sayama confirmed: "We have found no evidence to indicate it was a deliberate act.
"Authorities will be clearing debris and concrete from the scene to allow complete access to the blast area and to check the integrity of underground liquid propane pipes that may have been the cause of the explosion." Police said the injured were a 22-year-old Japanese male and a 38-year-old male hotel guest who complained of a burning sensation in his eyes and throat.