{
  "id": 705997,
  "title": "It must have been love, but it’s over now: sex toy placed in trash bin triggers DC bomb squad",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/it-must-have-been-love-but-its-over-now-sex-toy-placed-in-trash-bin",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-12T22:11:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Guardian US",
    "slug": "the-guardian-us",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/12/washington-dc-sex-toy-trash-bin"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Wednesday morning, Washington DC's Wisconsin Avenue was temporarily closed due to a suspicious device found near the Tenleytown fire station during rush hour. The object, a blue-and-black electronic device with exposed wires, was reportedly left by someone at a trash bin. Police, including the bomb squad and K-9 unit, were dispatched to the scene and shut down the road between 40th Street and Warren Street for nearly two hours. After examining the device, authorities confirmed it was not dangerous and identified it as an \"electronic sex portable pump device,\" more commonly known as the \"Zolo Blowbot\" or a similar toy. The device, which sells for over $300, features adjustable suction levels and a drying function for hygiene. This incident is not the first time that sex toys have caused disruptions on the road; in September 2022, a similar situation occurred when a semi-truck overturned on an Oklahoma interstate, spilling adult items and lubricant onto the road.",
  "summary": "After person is spotted disposing of suspicious device, police with K-9 unit halt major roadway for two hours A stretch of a major Washington DC roadway was brought to a standstill during Wednesday morning’s rush hour after the city’s bomb squad responded to a suspicious device – only for police to later identify the object as a sex toy. The situation unfolded at about 7am as many commuters were…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}