Union Square Reopens After Area Deemed Safe

2:06 PM: San Francisco’s Union Square is reopening this afternoon after being shut down for about two hours because of a report of a suspicious package, police said.

Officers responded around 11:45 a.m. to the report of the suspicious package near Powell and Stockton streets.

Occupants of businesses near Union Square were told to shelter in place while police investigated.

Investigators eventually determined that there was no merit to the report and deemed the area safe. Streets were beginning to reopen as of about 1:45 p.m., police said.

San Francisco Municipal Railway service was also affected by the incident, with eastbound buses and streetcars not stopping in the area of Market and Fourth streets, Muni officials said.

Dan McMenamin, Bay City News

12:45 PM: A suspicious device has shut down San Francisco’s Union Square this afternoon, according to police.

Police were notified about the object, which is at Powell and Stockton streets, around 11:45 a.m., police said.

Occupants of businesses around Union Square have been told to shelter in place. Pedestrians and motorists have been advised to avoid the area.

Eastbound San Francisco Municipal Railway service will not stop in the area of Market and Fourth streets, according to Muni officials.

Sasha Lekach, Bay City News

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