No bomb in scare near Pentagon

But the official said there was nothing in the bag that could have detonated or resulted in an explosion.

The FBI declined to specify what was in the backpack, but said the items were undergoing further testing at the laboratory in Quantico.

“I can tell you this was not a device and that the products in the backpack are inert,’’ said Brenda Heck, special agent in charge of the counterterrorism unit at the FBI’s Washington field office.

Melaku was not believed to have ties to any terrorist organization, according to another official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity.

Melaku joined the Marine Corps Reserves in September 2007 and is listed as a lance corporal and motor vehicle operator with a combat engineer battalion headquartered in Baltimore, according to the FBI. He has received the National Defense Service Medal and the Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal. He has not been deployed overseas.

Melaku remained in the custody of the US Park Police as investigators in protective white suits and bomb-sniffing dogs went through his home in suburban Washington and removed evidence. Nothing suspicious was found in Melaku’s car, parked in bushes near a Pentagon parking lot, authorities said.

Melaku was arrested last month in Leesburg, Va., on grand larceny charges, accused of damaging cars and stealing items from them. His lawyer in that case did not return a call seeking comment yesterday.

The investigation snarled morning rush hour traffic yesterday as police closed off roads around the Pentagon.

In another event earlier this week that officials treated as suspicious, a vehicle was pulled over near the Pentagon after the driver appeared to be backing up against traffic. Authorities determined that people inside the vehicle were taking pictures of the Pentagon, and an occupant admitted carrying a gun, said Pentagon police spokesman Chris Layman. The events appeared unrelated, he said.