An aerial view of Rome's Colosseum

An aerial view of Rome's Colosseum Credit: AP

The Colosseum was evacuated about an hour before the famed tourist site was scheduled to close Sunday evening after a suspicious device was found inside, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

A Carabinieri bomb squad detonated the device, but it did not appear to contain any explosive material. The device turned out to be a tin can half filled with paint thinner, with two electrical wires running from a 9-volt battery, ANSA said.

Tourists sounded the alarm after noting a suspicious package on the second level of the ancient Roman arena, ANSA said.

Rome police reached by telephone could not immediately confirm the incident.

On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra and Matt Lindsay take a look top boys and girls basketball players on Long Island. Credit: Newsday

Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 15: LI's top basketball players On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra and Matt Lindsay take a look top boys and girls basketball players on Long Island.

On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra and Matt Lindsay take a look top boys and girls basketball players on Long Island. Credit: Newsday

Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 15: LI's top basketball players On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra and Matt Lindsay take a look top boys and girls basketball players on Long Island.

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