11:57 AM: Reporting from the scene, Appeal staffer Tim Ehhalt spoke to Sgt. Wilfred Williams of the SFPD, who told him that “someone was walking by and saw one bottle filled with some sort of suspicious fluid with a threatening note on it.” This was on the east side on 20th. They called the police, and SFPD discovered a similar bottle and note on the west side of the street.
Williams did not offer additional comment on the contents of the note.
10:45 AM: More details are emerging: SFFD spokesperson Lt. Mindy Talmadge says the two packages, described as “some sort of bottles containing some liquid” were left in front of houses at 669 and 670 20th Ave, which are across the street from each other. The first call to authorities came in at 9:28 a.m., according to Bay City News.
As noted earlier, officers have set up a perimeter and evacuated the two homes as well as some neighbors. A hazardous materials team has joined the SFPD, SFFD, and bomb squad in an effort to determine the threat level of the package.
10:25 AM: AlertSF won’t tell you, but KRON4’s morning news and SFist will: There’s presently a shelter in place (that means, stay indoors if you’re in the area) at 20th Avenue and Balboa. According to SFFD spokesperson Lt. Mindy Talmadge, two “suspicious devices” (she did not have any more details) were found across the street from one another at that Richmond District intersection.
SFPD, the fire department, and the bomb squad are on the scene, and some homes in the area have been evacuated. Needless to say, that intersection and nearby streets are closed to traffic. You’ll know more when we hear more.
