Route 9 in Marlboro, NJ, reopened after suspicious device cleared

MARLBORO, N.J. (WABC) -- Police reopened U.S. Route 9 after it was closed briefly in both directions in Marlboro Thursday.

According to New Jersey Transit, at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, NJT bus #67, which was headed from Newark to Lakewood, was stopped by the Marlboro Police Department after a report of a suspicious package on board.

The bus stopped on southbound Route 9 at Robertsville Road. Fifteen passengers on board were transferred to another bus, according to NJT.

Police said someone who had just flown in from Israel was acting suspiciously on the bus. He was on his way to Lakewood to visit family. Police said he is either in the United States on a student visa or had been studying abroad.

He was carrying a small travel clock and several passengers thought he was acting strangely, police said; at one point, he dropped the clock and rushed to pick it up.

Police talked to him at the scene after the bus was stopped. He cooperated and was released after the clock was deemed safe, police said.

All traffic near County Road 520 was stopped while officials investigated.