Suspicious Package Closes San Diego Bank, Surrounding Streets

SAN DIEGO, CA – A suspicious package arrived by mail Thursday at a Core-Columbia bank, prompting evacuations and closures of traffic lanes in the bustling area until a bomb squad safely destroyed the parcel.

The management of the Chase Bank branch office at 101 W. Broadway in downtown San Diego reported the suspicious postal delivery shortly before 3:30 p.m., according to police and the city Fire-Rescue Department.

Authorities called in explosives-handling personnel and cleared everyone out of the savings and loan office along with other parts of the building and neighboring structures.

Police, meanwhile, shut down various traffic lanes in the vicinity, including Broadway between First and Front streets, as well as sidewalks and pedestrian plazas near the bank, Officer Robert Heims said.

Shortly before 6 p.m., the bomb squad blew the package apart. It was not immediately clear what it had contained.

A hazardous-materials team was then called in to make sure the area was safe to reopen to the public, fire department spokeswoman Monica Munoz said.

By City News Service / Image via Shutterstock