5:29 PM: A San Francisco police bomb squad investigation of a suspicious package at the Federal Building at 450 Golden Ave. was resolved this afternoon when the package was found to be harmless.
San Francisco police Officer Wilson Ng said the package was not hazardous, but said he had no other details.
A representative of the U.S. General Services Administration, which manages the building, said an “all clear” announcement was made at 4:08 p.m.
The package arrived in the basement mailroom of the building, according to San Francisco police Sgt. David Dorantes, who said Federal Protective Service officers called city police at about 2:45 p.m. after being unable able to ascertain the contents of the package.
During the probe, workers in the 20-story building were instructed to shelter in place.
They were allowed to leave from an exit on the west side of the building but no one was permitted to enter.
Police temporarily blocked off Larkin and Polk streets between Golden Gate Avenue and Turk Street on the east and west sides of the building, but allowed traffic to proceed normally on Golden Gate and Turk.
A bomb squad truck and at least six other police vehicles were parked in the closed section of Larkin Street during the investigation.
The GSA’s regional spokeswoman, Tracy Madison, referred questions to the Federal Protective Service’s spokesman in Washington, D.C., who was not immediately available for comment.
3:58 PM: The San Francisco police bomb squad is investigating a suspicious package that arrived in the basement mailroom of the Federal Building at 450 Golden Gate Ave. today, according to police.
San Francisco police Sgt. David Dorantes said the Federal Protective Service police called the San Francisco police bomb squad after not being able to ascertain the contents of the package.
Police said they were first notified of the package at about 2:45 p.m.
Workers inside the building have been told to shelter in place for the time being. Police have blocked off Larkin Street and Polk Street between Golden Gate Avenue and Turk Street. However, traffic is currently allowed to proceed normally on Golden Gate and Turk.
Police said they expect that no one will be allowed to enter the building until at least 4:30 p.m.
Julia Cheever, Bay City News
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