This browser does not support the Video element.
Philadelphia City Hall evacuated Thursday due to suspicious package
Philadelphia City Hall was evacuated Thursday morning due to a suspicious package that was located in council chambers.
PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia City Hall was evacuated on Thursday after a suspicious package was found near an ongoing City Council session.
The package was later deemed not to have contained a device and the scene was cleared by police.
What we know:
The evacuation happened as City Council reconvened to discuss several hot-button issues, including data centers in the city.
Officials say an unattended backpack was found near City Council chambers by a staffer who then alerted law enforcement.
Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore said two K9s trained to sniff for explosives marked the backpack, prompting the evacuation. K9 officers continued to sweep the building to ensure that nothing harmful was brought into the City Hall inside the bag and placed somewhere else, Vanore said.
Video from inside City Hall shows a man being escorted out of the building in handcuffs. Vanore revealed the backpack belonged to that man and police are currently interviewing him. No charges have been filed.
Authorities examined the package and determined that it did not contain a device and the scene was cleared, according to police.
City Council was allowed to return to session after police gave the all clear.
What we don't know:
It's unknown exactly what caused the K9 officers to mark the bag.
Vanore speculated that something like a firearm or firework previously stored in the bag could have prompted the K9s to respond.
No firearm or explosive was found in the bag, according to police.
The Source: Information in this article provided by FOX 29's Chris O'Connell.