Apparent pipe bombs left at bank branch in Bensalem

What was meant to look like a Christmas gift turned out to be most unwelcome at a Bensalem bank.

Police said someone hung the package on the back door of the M&T Bank branch in the 1800 block of State Street between 8 and 8:25 a.m. Thursday.

Inside the wrapped, shoebox-size box were two apparent pipe bombs, Bensalem Deputy Director of Public Safety Pat Ponticelli said.

He said the devices were safely neutralized by the Philadelphia Police Bomb Squad, which is analyzing the materials to determine whether the bombs were functional.

"They certainly looked real enough," Ponticelli said, "but they might not have had all the necessary parts."

Ponticelli said a bank employee saw a bag containing the box about 8:25 a.m., took it inside, and found a note that indicated the bombs could be detonated remotely. He declined to specify the exact wording but said it appeared to be a threat to get money from the bank.

Employees who arrived at 8 a.m. did not see any package, Ponticelli said.

After police were summoned, they secured the area and locked down nearby schools for an hour until the bombs were removed, Ponticelli said.

He said an investigation was under way and that surveillance video was being reviewed.