From PhillyVoice · · 2m
City Hall evacuated over suspicious backpack
Philadelphia police cleared a bag found during City Council's first day back, with K9s and bomb disposal units responding to the threat.
In brief
Philadelphia police cleared a bag found during City Council's first day back, with K9s and bomb disposal units responding to the threat. A suspicious backpack at City Hall triggered an evacuation and investigation, but was determined to be harmless after K9s and X-ray equipment examined it. Originally reported by…
City Hall evacuated Thursday morning
Philadelphia police evacuated City Hall around 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, the first day of City Council's fall session, after a staffer found an unattended backpack in the caucus room.
K9 units detected something suspicious
Two Sheriff's K9s trained to detect bomb powder and ammunition materials both alerted on the bag, prompting police to bring in the bomb disposal unit.
“If a dog hits on it, that means there was some kind of material there that could cause harm to somebody.”
X-ray and manual examination cleared the bag
Police used X-ray equipment and manually inspected the backpack, determining it contained nothing that could harm anyone at City Hall.
“There was nothing in the bag that could harm anyone at this time.”
Owner identified through City Hall video
City Hall's extensive video surveillance allowed police to quickly identify who left the backpack and locate that person for questioning.
“City Hall has video from one side to the other, so they were quickly able to determine who put the bag down.”
Person taken in for questioning
The backpack's owner was contacted and taken in for questioning by police, though no charges have been filed against them.
“That person was contacted. We are going to investigate and interview that person. No one's charged.”
Building reopened after 75 minutes
Police taped off Dilworth Park during the investigation but began allowing people back into City Hall around 12:45 p.m., roughly 75 minutes after the evacuation began.
City Council resumed session at 1:15 p.m.
After the all-clear, City Council resumed its Thursday session around 1:15 p.m., allowing the fall agenda to move forward despite the interruption.
Deputy Commissioner praised evacuation response
Philadelphia Police Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore commended City Hall staff and visitors for following evacuation protocols quickly and safely during the incident.
“all their plans work perfectly because everybody got up very quickly or very safely”
K9s trained for explosives, not drugs
Deputy Commissioner Vanore clarified that the K9 units used in the investigation are trained specifically to detect bomb powder and ammunition, not drugs or other substances.
“They're not drug dogs.”
The bottom line
A suspicious backpack at City Hall triggered an evacuation and investigation, but was determined to be harmless after K9s and X-ray equipment examined it.
