Police Evacuate Capitol Botanic Garden After Suspicious Package Found

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Capitol Botanic Garden was evacuated out of an abundance of caution Wednesday after Capitol police discovered a suspicious package near the building's southwest drive.

The package was located near Independence Avenue Southwest, police said. The department's Hazardous Devices Section gave the all-clear shortly before 4:45 p.m. after determining the package did not contain anything dangerous.

During the investigation, police closed the southwest drive of the U.S. Capitol Building and Independence Avenue between Washington Avenue Southwest and Second Street Southeast.

Just before 5 p.m., police tweeted that all roads and sidewalks would reopen shortly.