PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Portland City Hall was evacuated over a bomb threat shortly after noon Tuesday, forcing city workers and staff into the downtown streets.
The bomb threat was called in at 12:15 p.m. forcing City Hall to be evacuated “due to an abundance of caution,” Portland police said. By 1:15 p.m. city officials gave the all clear and allowed everyone back inside.
In a statement, Mayor Ted Wheeler said “a person called several times expressing that a bomb was going to go off within the building.” Both PPB and City Hall Security checked City Hall and “found no alarming devices or packages.”
“They are explicit and they are direct threats,” said Robert King, the mayor’s public safety adviser. “The city hall, the city of Portland and city facilities are not soft targets; we have security that is here and we work very closely with police.”
Wheeler’s spokesperson told KOIN 6 News the mayor’s office received thousands of calls and emails about this past weekend’s protest. Some of those calls and emails were threatening, but it’s not clear if there is a direct connection between them and the phoned-in bomb threat.
“These threats of violence are alarming and create a sense of fear that no one should experience, but unfortunately, this is increasingly becoming a reality in local government,” Wheeler said in a statement. “I’m grateful that nothing happened. I’m grateful for the swift action of our security and our officers.”
