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Naval Medical Center Portsmouth reopens after several threats force evacuations

Posted at 1:51 PM, Apr 23, 2014
and last updated 2014-04-24 06:02:08-04

Naval Medical Center Portsmouth has reopened to all patients and visitors following a series of threats that caused an evacuation and lockdown to incoming traffic on Wednesday afternoon.

Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads confirms that security officials received a report of a suspicious package in the food court in Building 3 (the tallest building) around 1:00 p.m.

At the same time, a bomb threat was reported in the galley of Building 2 (the newer building).

Personnel and patients near the surrounding area were evacuated.

The code went out in the hospital at 1:12 p.m.

Hospital employees say Building 3 was given the all-clear around 2:15 p.m. after the suspicious package was determined to be unattended luggage. The building was swept and deemed safe for personnel to return.

Building 2 remained evacuated for another hour while the bomb threat was investigated. A search has turned up no devices at either location.

A suspect heard to have made the threat is in custody and is being questioned.

NewsChannel 3 is working to get additional information. It will be posted when it becomes available.