3:00 PM: MTA spokesperson Judson True says that the Muni lines in the area (the 30 Stockton, 45 Union and 9X Bayshore Express) are back on their regular schedules. Whew! Everything’s OK. Is it safe to start making jokes like “this is the most action those newspaper stands have gotten in years!” yet?
2:39 PM: BCN says that:
At about 1 p.m., someone saw a man placing a package into a news rack at the intersection of Post and Kearny streets, San Francisco police spokesman Sgt. Wilfred Williams said.
The witness approached some firefighters who were in the area on an unrelated call, and the firefighters contacted police, Williams said…
Shortly after 2 p.m., police determined the package was harmless and the area was reopened to traffic. Williams said the item placed in the news rack was a shopping bag. It contained some items but none that posed a threat, he said.
Given that earlier this afternoon, another bomb scare was prompted by an empty suitcase left near a State Building elevator, one could assume that authorities are a little jumpy. Probably a bad day to leave your laundry on BART.
2:19 PM: Tipsters in the area are saying that it “Looks like it might be all over” and that “the robots are being put away and people are being allowed back on the streets.”
2:05 PM: A tipster confirms the other reports we’ve received, saying “The bomb squad is currently investigating a newspaper stand near the corner of Post and Kearny. The area is closed off and they are using robots.”
1:58 PM: A tipster says “It is a bomb scare. The SF Bomb Squad is using two robotic devices and have removed a small blue bag out of the newspaper stand on the corner of Post at Kearny, right in front of the new Charles Schwab building.”
1:56 PM: A tipster who works in the Sutter/Grant area says their “managers informed us that there was a suspicious package outside Charles Schwab.” We’re still working to get confirmation on these and other details.
1:44 PM: BCN is reporting that “Emergency personnel are responding to a report of a suspicious package at Post and Kearny streets in San Francisco this afternoon, a fire dispatcher said.” They say the report was made at 12:48 today. We’re trying to get more details from the SFPD, but have unconfirmed reports that streets in the area are closed to all traffic. Avoid the area!
1:41 PM: A tipster tells us “There’s a bomb scare on Kearny so the street is closed off. No cars or buses.” Another bomb scare? We’re working to confirm now.
1:31 PM: MTA spokesperson Judson True says that service on the 30 Stockton, 45 Union and 9X Bayshore Express has been disrupted in the Post/Kearny area since 1:02 “by police activity in the area.” Anyone in the arera know what’s up? If so, tell us! We’re checking, too, and will tell you more when we know more.
Photos of scene: tipster “Lois Lane”
