Scene Clear After Suspicious Activity At Convention Center: Cops

PHILADELPHIA – Philadelphia Police said the scene near the Pennsylvania Convention Center has been cleared after suspicious activity was reported in the area Friday morning.

Police said at about 11:20 the scene was cleared with no threat found after police investigated a report of suspicious activity at the Hotel2 Suites.

"This morning, the Philadelphia Police Department informed the Pennsylvania Convention Center of suspicious activity on property across the street from our building," a convention center spokesperson said in a statement. "The Center’s director of security was in constant contact with police officials and closely monitored the situation during the response by law enforcement.

"There was no impact on the routine operations of the Center or our customers during the response, which ended shortly before 11 a.m. this morning.

"We thank the men and women of the Philadelphia Police and Fire Departments for their quick response, service to the community, and their efforts to keep the building informed of the situation."

Patch will provide more information as it becomes available.

Original story:

Police temporarily locked down the area around the Pennsylvania Convention Center at 1200 Arch Street after two suspicious men were seen in the area early Friday morning.

On Friday morning employees of the Home2 Suites Hotel at the convention center saw two men enter a grate in the ground on the north side of 12th Street.

Then men then got out of the grate after about 20 minutes and fled the area in a Toyota vehicle, police said.

The 1100 and 1200 blocks of Arch Street are closed are police investigate.

The men were described as white men in the 30s wearing brown jackets.

Convention Center on lockdown and street closed due to suspicious van... bunch of librarians just wanting to Saroj and hear the Book Buzz #PLA2018 pic.twitter.com/jsNeglFyLI
— Amy the Librarian (@SciAndStories) March 23, 2018

Patch file photo