Pipe bomb’ threat in Oakland, California as ‘suspect seen putting suspicious device’ near courthouse & cops investigate
A POSSIBLE pipe bomb was discovered in downtown Oakland Wednesday, forcing evacuations in the area.
Many roads in the area near city hall were closed down by police as an investigation went underway.
“Clay Street between 11th and 16th St and Jefferson and Broadway is closed due to possible incendiary device,” said the Oakland Police Department on Twitter.
The Alameda County Sheriff bomb squad was at the scene. The FBI was also brought in to help assist the investigation and is now leading the probe.
"We are working with our local and federal partners to keep the scene safe while we work the problem," said the ACSO Bomb Squad.
Video near the area caught a man acting “suspiciously” and was seen leaving behind a plastic bag near the federal building.
The package was later rendered "safe" by the bomb squad. However, an additional search around the federal building was conducted "out of an abundance of caution."
A written note was included on the package, according to the FBI, who said this was a "hoax device designed to get our attention.
Alameda County Sheriff's Lt. Ray Kelly said the bomb squad was dispatched to the area around 12:45pm.
The device resembles a pipe bomb, however, it still remains unclear what it actually is, according to the sheriff’s office.
"It’s got a lot of characteristics that are concerning to us," said Kelly during a press conference.
“We have one role here as the bomb squad and that is to render this safe in the best way possible using the best techniques,” he said.
All civilians in the area were evacuated, according to authorities.
A spokeswoman with Oakland Police Department told The Sun later in the day: "The Oakland Police Department (OPD) Communications Division received a call today, just past 12:30 PM, regarding a possible explosive device located in the 1300 block of Clay Street.
"Officers arrived on-scene and immediately established a perimeter from 11th Street to 16th Street, and Broadway to Jefferson Street.
"The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Alameda County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO), worked collaboratively to ensure our community members remained safe. OPD officers evacuated some of the buildings within close proximity of the device."
The OPD spokeswoman said ACSO’s Bomb Squad declared the device safe at 5.30pm.
"We would like to thank our community members for their patience, and our law enforcement partners for their support, during this incident," she added.
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An updated FBI statement noted that an individual put down a bag near the flag pole in front of the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building in Oakland at around 12.40pm, which prompted a security official to determine the bag was "suspicious" and other law enforcement agencies to be called to the scene.
"The FBI will continue to follow all logical investigative leads related to this incident," the FBI concluded. "To protect the integrity of the investigation, we have no additional information to provide at this time."
More to follow...
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