Abandoned Backpack Prompted Plaza Evacuation

PALM HARBOR, FL - The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has given an all-clear following the discovery of a suspicious package at The Fountains Plaza Monday afternoon.

The discovery of the unattended backpack at the 34824 U.S. 19 plaza raised alarm bells earlier in the afternoon. To ensure everyone’s safety, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad was called upon to investigate. A number of businesses in the plaza were also evacuated.

With the help of the bomb squad, Pinellas deputies learned the backpack “contained a woman’s change purse,” an email from the agency stated.

The sheriff’s office cleared the scene shortly before 4 p.m.

This was the second incident reported Monday. Another package was found near the East Lake Fire Station, but that turned out to be someone’s lunch, the sheriff’s office said.

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