Penang Bridge Closed due to Undisclosed Threat

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Malaysian police temporarily closed a key bridge connecting the island resort of Penang with the rest of the mainland on Wednesday following a public tip-off that triggered security concerns, officials said.

The 13.5-kilometer (8.4-mile) Penang bridge, a national landmark, was closed to traffic after police received information that forced an inspection to be conducted, a Penang police official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to make public statements.

The bridge was reopened less than three hours after it was closed, the official added.

Police believe there is "no threat to the public," he said. He declined to give further details.

Another official of the Penang Bridge Sdn. Bhd., a company that operates the bridge, confirmed the temporary closure, but could not give more information. He said it was not immediately clear how badly traffic had been affected because of the move.

Source : Herald Tribune