Washington City Hall, Police Station Evacuated Due to Potentially Live Explosive
Key Highlights
- A person attempted to turn in what was believed to be an undetonated explosive at Kent City Hall.
- Police evacuated nearby buildings and called in the Port of Seattle bomb squad for safe removal.
- The suspected device was located in a parking area and was identified as potentially military-grade.
KENT, Washington -- The Kent City Hall, police station and Centennial Building were briefly evacuated on Monday afternoon after a person tried to turn in what was believed to be an undetonated military-grade explosive, according to police.
The device was safely removed shortly before 3 p.m. and buildings were expected to reopen, according to Kent police.
Kent Assistant Police Chief Jarod Kasner said the person did not bring the device as a threat, but it required police to evacuate nearby buildings and call in the Port of Seattle bomb squad.
Unfortunately, it's happened in the past," Kasner said. "We prefer that they don't do that.
If a person thinks they see a live explosive, they should call 911, and if possible the immediate area should be evacuated.
The suspected explosive on Monday was in a parking area of the Kent City Hall campus, so nearby buildings had to be evacuated, Kasner said. He did not have details on what kind of explosive it may have been.
The 200 block of Fourth Avenue South was closed, as was West Gowe Street between Fourth Avenue South and Second Avenue South.
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